Outfielder Brett Phillips has announced his retirement after seven Major League seasons. In an Instagram reel released today, Phillips credited his career to his family, his faith, and to many people in and out of baseball that helped him achieve his success. Beyond those named in his speech, the 31-year-old Phillips also had a whiteboard full of names of many former teammates and executives who played key roles in his career.
Phillips hit .187/.272/.347 with 31 homers over 971 plate appearances and 393 games during his MLB career, while playing for five different clubs at the big league level. Phillips’ speed was his chief offensive weapon, as he stole 39 bases on 45 career attempts. That speed also helped him deliver outstanding defense at all three outfield positions — over his 2321 1/3 innings as a big league outfielder, Phillips amassed +41 Defensive Runs Saved, +31 Outs Above Average, and a +13.0 UZR/150.
The Astros made Phillips a sixth-round pick in the 2012 draft, though before he could make his debut in the Show, Houston dealt Phillips as part of the huge trade at the 2015 deadline that brought Carlos Gomez and Mike Fiers from Milwaukee. Phillips was one of four pieces of the very prominent trade package acquired by the Brew Crew, as Josh Hader, Adrian Houser, and Domingo Santana were the other members of the haul. Not to be overshadowed at the time of the trade, Phillips was drawing top-100 prospect attention heading into the 2016 season and for a couple of years afterwards.
Phillips got his first taste of the majors in 2017, and he appeared in 52 games for the Brewers over the next two seasons before the outfielder was moved to the Royals in another notable deadline deal that saw Mike Moustakas shipped from K.C. to Milwaukee. This tenure in Kansas City stretched over parts of three seasons before Phillips was dealt again to the Rays partway through the abbreviated 2020 season, which set the stage for the most memorable moments of Phillips’ career.
Tampa Bay won the AL pennant that year, with Phillips chipping in as a defensive specialist during the rest of the regular season and then as a defensive sub and pinch-runner throughout the playoffs. He had just three plate appearances during the postseason, and his one hit during that stretch couldn’t have been bigger. With the Dodgers holding a 7-6 lead over the Rays with two outs in the bottom of the ninth of Game 4, Phillips lined a single that tied the game, and ended up as the walkoff hit when Randy Arozarena also scored on the play due to a Will Smith catching error. Beyond the hit itself, Rays fans will always remember the image of Phillips’ celebratory airplane-style sprint around the outfield.
The following season saw Phillips deliver his best year at the plate, as he hit .206/.300/.427 with 13 homers and 14 steals (out of 17 attempts) in 292 PA while playing in a part-time outfield role in Tampa Bay. His numbers dropped off sharply in 2022, however, and the Rays designated him for assignment and then dealt Phillips to the Orioles.
Phillips moved on to play 39 games with the 2023 Angels in what proved to be his last MLB campaign, as subsequent minor league deals with the White Sox and Yankees didn’t result in any more calls to the Show. His stint with the Yankees saw the start of a new career path for Phillips, as he attempted to convert to pitching. Phillips’ final stop of his career came with Kane County of the independent American Association this year.
Beyond his energy and contributions on the field, Phillips became a fan favorite and social media darling due to his outgoing personality. “Baseball Is Fun” became Phillips’ unofficial catchphrase, and he finished his retirement announcement by repeating his mantra one more time. We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Phillips on a fine career and we wish him plenty of more fun in his post-playing endeavors.
The airplane has finally come in for a landing, boys. ∠(‘-‘ )
At least, he landed safely. You don’t know what will happen with air traffic controllers.
He always made me smile. Certainly a gift for all mlb fans.
Congrats to Phillips but i always find it amusing when a player who we haven’t seen for a couple of years publicly announces their retirement
Brett Gardner hasn’t officially retired.
Brett was 10 times the player as this guy and probably won’t get half of what was said in this article when he decides to officially retire.
So he has to have a career batting average of .189 like Phillips to garner this much hoopla?? I get it, just act like a clown
I doubt that is an accurate, non-biased assertion.
Like a clown? You mean having fun, being happy, and entertaining fans?
Your logic is why MLB interest is tanking and Banana Ball is selling out football stadiums.
So many people who announce their retirement on social media. Don’t understand why you need to criticise a not so famous baseball player for doing the same.
He played a little bit in the minors last year and a few games of independent ball this year.
He made an Instagram post. Its not like he took out full page ads and rented sky-writers.
Who?
How can you be a baseball fan if you don’t remember him in the pandemic World Series
Maybe they were busy dealing with the pandemic? Just a thought.
Not too busy to post stupid comments on a pleasant post about a guy’s retirement. Just a thought.
They played baseball in 2020?
Yep with bats and balls and all that!
And fake fans and simulated crowd noise. Oh boy! Perhaps they could make those permanent features at Marlins games.
Thats definitely what he would say about you. But he played in and had a very memorable hit in a World Series.
I remember his laugh being the biggest thing coming out of the brewers spring training back in the day. Hard not to route for him
Mom Joke Mondays with Will Smith (RP not C).
Just make sure you route him to the retirement home!
Sorry John, I will “root” for him to the retirement home
Legend. Congratulations on your retirement.
Legend? He his .187 for his career. That was the longest retirement article I’ve ever seen for a guy who lived under the Mendoza line his entire career. Fan favorite? I’m sure he was. But how far has this game fallen where guys hitting under .200 have a job in the big leagues.
7 seasons in the majors as a defensive replacement. Some guys just have a thing they do well and he made $6M doing it. Positive career WAR and a key hit in a World Series game.
@dirtbagbaseball427
Tell that to Terrance Gore — dude barely hit .200 and has more rings than Trout.
Just act like a circus clown. That’s apparently what he did to stick in the show for as long as he did.
You need to look at all the positive comments, compare them to yours, and rethink your life. It’s a better life if you can get there.
You seem fun.
The smile that lit up a thousand smiles. May we all carry that happiness in our hearts.
His hit was the most memorable World Series play of the 2020s until Freddie freeman hit the grand slam
2nd best World Series play in the decade is still not bad for a journeyman
Brett is Trey Hillman’s son-in-law…
Baseball is fun!
Wish he hit 10 years that one moment was worth the full pension there should be exceptions
Brett Phillips morphed into Jose Siri.
stathead.com/tiny/pZtEI
Oddly enough, Siri was Brett’s replacement on the Rays.
I think one of the better “would they do it again: trades is the Gomez/Fiers for Hader/Phillips, Gomez was a massive disappointment in Houston and obviously Hader turned into a great closer, but the piece that is most interesting to me is Fiers. He was the guy that ratted out the team for the trash can scandal. Do you make that deal even though it technically still helped you win a World Series title?
Hero Fiers!
Good Luck Brett!
Carter .187 batting average. Proof MLB needs a few less teams not more.
^this
Bad take
Carter who?
@Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman
Yes, it does need less teams but that’s not going to make them the money.
@York It also would make them lose a lot of fans. Lose/lose for everyone except a small subset of purists
Sorry Freddie Freeman left.
This would make sense if Phillips wasn’t a 5th outfielder for pretty much his entire career. He only had 971 plate appearances over parts of 7 MLB seasons, and getting more than 150 in a season just twice.
Freddie,
If you’d cited his poor OBP, low SLG, or even tried to make the argument that he wasn’t a good defender, maybe, just maybe, you’d have a case. But to state his BA as the whole of your argument? Good grief, get with the times.
As mlb1225 said, he was a 5th outfielder who didn’t play much, so it’s not like MLB teams are putting guys like this in their starting lineups all the time.
Players get opportunities, and sometimes they succeed, sometimes they fail, and sometimes they’re more famous for their smile, laugh, and a single big postseason hit. Just about everyone in the MLBTR comments section would be ecstatic to have had Phillips’ career.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a dugout next year.
Great athlete
Find a YouTube video of Brett Phillips laughing…priceless. Like a donkey’s hee-haw and part of his charm.
Or here you go:
espn.com/video/clip/_/id/14874405
This is a guy who had fun playing the game. Always felt like he was having a blast even if he was just the 25th/26th man on the team.
I had to read all the way to the end of the comments to find the guy…Twoston…who summed up Brett Phillips the best.
I remember his epic sense of humor.
This guy always knew where to find a camera.
He signed autographs for kid after kid all the time he was here.
Fun character. Wish him well in his next adventure.
A kid in a man’s body. A lovable player remembered for the laughs and World Series Walk-Off.
I don’t recall all this hoopla when Drew Butera retired.
Probably timing. During the playoffs, trades don’t happen so there isn’t much to report on except retirements, free agencies and injuries.
Sweet guy. EXTREMELY fan friendly – was the ONLY player at Tropicana Field who would sign autographs and take photos with fans for up to 30 minutes EVERY DAY! Many good wishes to Brett and family!
Brett Phillips was a man who never forgot how much of a privilege it was to be paid large lumps of money to play a kids game. Although never more than a roster filler he worked hard to be a great teammate, and please the fans.
For the sheer joy you shared in the 2020 World Series and other precious moments: thank you
That picture of him is the epitome of fun. Congrats on a solid career!
@Acoss1331
But, this is a serious league. We’re not supposed to have fun! If you want fun, go to the Mexican league.
Old York,
You’re right! No more smiling, that goes especially for Francisco Lindor!
@Acoss1331
Completely off-topic but go look up Arky Vaughan. Got to be one of the GOATS of MLB.
Really nice career but wow, he retired at 36 and passes away at age 40 that is way too young.
@Acoss1331
He was fishing with a friend named Bill Wimer.. The boat capsize because Wimer was standing on it. Vaughan tried to save him but they both drowned.
That’s terrible! Definitely gone too soon.
Loved his passion for the game, always rooted for his success. Salute on a great career. Looking forward to seeing what is next!
“A deadline acquisition” who goes on to hit a GWRBI against one of the best closers in the era. And then follows it up with a 2.1 WAR in 2021. Rays knew at the time how to get the best out of each of their players! Fun career, Salute on that & what is next.
As a Brewers fan, he started off his tenure in MIL in electric fashion.
MLB’s first TWP
He’s not the first two-way player in MLB.
Brett starred as a great Scotty Smalls in this 2018 Brewers Sandlot reenactment scene:
m.youtube.com/watch?v=3SQjoGO773Y