Brett Phillips: A Very Clutch Ball Player

Drafted in the sixth of the 2012 MLB draft by the Houston Astros, Brett Phillips, was a prospective ballplayer. Like many young players who get drafted straight out of high school, Phillips chose to sign with the Astros instead of attending North Carolina State University where he would have played college baseball. However, after being drafted, Phillips began to work his way up the minor leagues with the Gulf Coast Astros. In his 2012 debut season, Phillips was batting a .251 in only 54 games. From there, Phillips would work his way up until eventually getting traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015 with a hand full of notable players such as Josh Hader, a pitcher for the Brewers, and Mike Fiers, the notorious Houston Astros whistleblower. Although he finally made his way to the show, no one, including himself, knew the impact Phillips would have on the Tampa Bay Rays organization.

Phillips would be traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on August 27, 2020, and just one week later on September 4, Phillips made his first plate appearance for the Rays. Fast forward to October 24, it was game 4 of the 2020 World Series. Phillips would again be brought in. It was his first postseason appearance and it was against the almighty Los Angeles Dodgers. It was amazing how the Rays had made it as far as they did, but what was even more amazing was how they were challenging the Dodgers. Every baseball fan knew the Dodgers had the best roster in the MLB. Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and Clayton Kershaw, just to name a few. But back to Phillips, it was probably the most important at-bat in his career. The Dodgers were leading the series two to one, and the score was seven to six in favor of the Dodgers. It was the bottom of the ninth with two outs and two men on base for the Rays. Being one of the few games which allowed fans, the stadium was erupting. Phillips came up to the plate and was facing Kenley Jansen a three-time all-star and ace reliever. First pitch; ball, second pitch; outside but called strike; third pitch; outside but called strike; however, on the fourth pitch, Phillips drove it to right-center field, and you know the rest. Phillips made the impossible, possible. Hitting a walk-off drive leading the Rays to win the game and tying the series.

This may have been the height of Phillips’s career, so far, but he has been pretty good as of recently. On April 15, 2021, Phillips once again had luck on his side. It was Jackie Robinson Week. The Rays were battling the Rangers. Due to a series of eros by the Rangers, Phillips was able to make it to him from second base. The throw to second via catcher was off. Phillips advanced the third. However, while sliding into the base, Phillips was hit by the throw to third which then and allowed Phillps to run home. Even though this tied the game, the Rangers would go on to beat the Rays six to four.

Finally, on May 14, 2021, Phillips steps up to the plate. Once again, his clutch gene would be activated. The Rays were playing the Mets. It was the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded and two outs for the Rays. Sounds kind of familiar, right? Anyway, Phillips had three previous plate appearances in the game which all ended by the way of the K. However, this time was different. Phillips steps up to the plate and swings at the first pitch. Once again, hitting a walk-off drive into right field. The Rays won the game and Phillips does his famous airplane celebration as he runs the bases.

So you may be asking yourself, why is this guy writing an article about Brett Phillips? A guy who has made a couple of good plays in his career. I mean what “high-caliber” player hasn’t made a handful of good players in their career. But it’s not about the plays Phillips has made. This is about baseball. The stuff Phillips has done and achieved shows way baseball is fun. I mentioned a similar statement in the article I wrote about Shohei Ohtani, the young star for the Los Angeles Angels. These are the moments baseball fans live for. A slow build-up leads to a brilliant ending. Let’s face it, baseball is not where it used to be. With the NBA and NFL being far more popular than the MLB. Players like Phillips make baseball fun and it makes it worth it to watch games. I love baseball and I hope others can appreciate it more.