Outfielder Brett Phillips, whose walk-off hit and celebratory dash around the outfield after Game 4 of the 2020 World Series highlighted one of the wildest plays in recent Fall Classic memory, announced his retirement Sunday after 13 seasons in professional baseball.
“It's time for me to close a chapter of playing and open a new one,” Phillips said in a video posted on Instagram while standing in front of a whiteboard featuring the names of people who made a difference in his career. “I hope to stay in the game in some capacity, and I look forward to seeing you guys around, especially the people on this board and shaking your hand in person and telling you thank you in person.”
A sixth-round Draft pick by the Astros in 2012, Phillips -- who became well known early in his career for his unique, infectious laugh --played in the Majors for the Brewers, Royals, Rays, Orioles and Angels. He also spent time in the Minors with the White Sox and, most recently, the Yankees, with whom he tried to make a comeback as a pitcher in 2024.
But Phillips’ on-field career will be headlined by his heroics for the Rays in that World Series game. It was the only postseason hit of Phillips’ career, and it came off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen with two runners on in a one-run game, and with the Rays down to their last strike.
Phillips, who hit .150 that season for Tampa Bay and .187 for his career, lined a pitch to center to score the tying run from second. But once the ball was booted by center fielder Chris Taylor, Randy Arozarena tried to score from first. It looked like he would be out at the plate by plenty -- especially when he tumbled after rounding third -- but the throw home got away from catcher Will Smith, allowing Arozarena to dive in and smack the dish with the winning run.
In pure elation, Phillips ran into the outfield with his arms outstretched at his side like a human airplane.
“I don’t know what happened, but then [Arozarena] scored,” Phillips said after the game. "The next thing I know, I’m airplaning around the outfield and I get dogpiled.”
Two years later, Phillips created a memorable moment in an April regular-season contest for the Rays that meant much more than baseball. Before the game against the A's, Phillips met with one of his biggest fans, then-8-year-old Chloe Grimes, who was battling cancer for the second time in her young life. She gave a couple of bracelets to Phillips, who said he would try to do something special for her during the game.
Then in the third inning -- and while Chloe was being interviewed in the stands -- Phillips stepped to the plate with Chloe’s bracelets on his left wrist and hit a long home run to right field. The ball came off Phillips’ bat at 107.8 mph. It will go down as the hardest-hit ball of his MLB career.
“I told her she gave me her power, and she sure did,” Phillips said after the game. “It’s just crazy. For me, it’s a God thing. … Sports are just so cool for moments like that.”