Brett Phillips has already made a number of memories at the plate. Can he now do it on the mound?
As Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times wrote over the weekend, the former Rays outfielder is looking to make a return to the big leagues, but this time as a relief pitcher.
Phillips got an opportunity to pitch as a position player in blowouts as a member of the Rays. Most notably, in his first appearance July 2, 2021 against the Blue Jays in Buffalo, he was shown on television warming up in the strangest way possible, then on his first pitch to Jonathan Davis, fired a 94 MPH fastball before turning to throwing eephus pitches the rest of the inning.
He also showed off his range from the mound in a game against Oakland at the Trop April 11, 2022, when he made a sliding catch up against the visiting dugout to retire Seth Brown.
But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Phillips on the mound, as he had only two appearances where he didn’t allow a run (one of which was only one-third of an inning), and Anthony Rendon (who is probably the polar opposite to Phillips when it comes to his feelings on playing baseball) once took him deep hitting left-handed.
We got our first look at Phillips the full-time reliever when he took the mound Monday in the NBC World Series, a collegiate-level wood bat tournament, getting his fastball to 97 MPH and also displaying a new breaking ball while striking out the side in his one inning of work.
Highlights of Brett Phillips K’ing the Side.
Up to 97 mph with a Wicked Breaking Ball.The Announcers didn’t even know if it was THE Brett Phillips. ?
“He looks a lot like the Brett Phillips who played in the Major Leagues…I honestly still don’t know if it is.” ? pic.twitter.com/YKt9lEfEca
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 30, 2024
According to Topkin, Phillips will pitch for the West Virginia Black Bears of the MLB Draft League on an exemption, and says he would be willing to go to the minors, even the Complex League level, for coaching and development.
UPDATE 1:45 PM: Jon Heyman of MLB Network is now reporting that Phillips has signed a minor-league deal with the New York Yankees, and will report to their complex in Tampa, crediting Rob Friedman of Pitching Ninja.
Brett Phillips, always a fun position player, signs with Yankees as a pitcher. Has hit 97 mph. @PitchingNinja on it
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 30, 2024
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
