Tampa Bay Rays: Brett Phillips brings pure joy to baseball

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder (or is that pitcher?) Brett Phillips brings a level of joy and excitement to the game of baseball that few can match. In the span of 24 hours, Phillips went from being called on to pitch the last two innings of the Rays blowout loss to the Oakland A’s, to being part of an incredible feel-good story with a young fan who is currently battling cancer.

Whether he is pitching or connecting with a cancer patient, Brett Phillips of the Tampa Bay Rays is bringing joy to the game of baseball.

On Monday, with the Tampa Bay Rays down 9-1 through seven innings, manager Kevin Cash called on his utility outfielder to do some mop-up work. This wasn’t the first time that Phillips had taken to the mound in an MLB game, as he threw one memorable inning in 2021.

Phillips is a competitor, yes, but he is also an entertainer and funny. On Monday, when center fielder Cristian Pache flew out to the wall in the eighth, Phillips got his attention as he was heading back to the dugout and indicated that Pache needed to lift some more weights. As with many things, it all depends on the delivery. With Phillips being the one who was jabbing him, the young Pache cracked a smile and continued on his way.

The scoreless eighth inning was exciting for Phillips fans, but the ninth contained a play that will end up being one of the best of the year. With one out and a runner on first, right fielder Seth Brown hit a popup on the left side of the field, right next to the visiting A’s dugout. Phillips’ outfield instincts kicked in and off the mound he bounded. Gaging where the dugout wall was, Phillips slid feet first, making a basket catch. It was one of the greatest defensive plays to be made from the mound and Phillips has logged a grand total of 3 innings pitched.

Later in the ninth, Phillips gave up a grand slam to end his scoreless streak, but that wasn’t the story, which was Brett Phillips doing Brett Phillips things. The guy has a career .202/.289/.381 slash line and has an 83 OPS+. Defensively he is impressive, but quite frankly he is a below average hitter. Baseball is so amazing when someone that isn’t the best player on the field can bring fans and teammates alike so much joy.

As if baseball fans everywhere refused to be seated and were begging for Phillips to take a curtain call, he gave us just what we were looking for the very next night. During the middle of a live TV interview with 8-year-old cancer patient Chloe Grimes, Phillips hit a rocket of a home run. Grimes had thrown out the first pitch and met Phillips before the game, giving him a bracelet (that he wore) as well as a softball and picture.

When Phillips was interviewed about Chloe after the game and told that his homer was during the middle of her TV interview, he got choked up. He cares, and he gets it.

Phillips will more than likely never be an All-Star, heck, he probably won’t ever be a regular starter, but he is good for the game of baseball and good for those around him. His positive perspective and joy flows from him and you can’t help but smile when he comes to mind.