The New York Yankees signed veteran outfielder Brett Phillips to a Minor League contract on Tuesday, but this time, he won’t be playing the outfield. Phillips, who has played seven seasons at the Major League level, is now transitioning to pitching.
Earlier this year, Phillips was released from a Minor League contract with the Chicago White Sox. Since then, he has been developing as a relief pitcher. On Monday, he struck out the side on 15 pitches in a semi-pro game, with his fastball reaching 97 MPH. The Yankees quickly picked him up the next day.
The 30-year-old right-hander appeared in 40 games for the Los Angeles Angels last year and has also played for the Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, and Baltimore Orioles. As a hitter, Phillips has a career batting average of .187 with 31 home runs and 39 stolen bases in 393 games. He also made five pitching appearances as a position player, though he allowed 12 hits and nine runs in 5.1 innings.
Known for his strong glove and infectious personality, Phillips has been taking pitching seriously since his release by Chicago in May. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he made his first start on the mound since Little League for the GPS Legends of Texas in a 9-3 victory over the Seattle Blackfins in the National Baseball Congress World Series on Monday.
“This wasn’t something where I got ready in a week for this,” Phillips told Taylor Eldridge of the Wichita Eagle. “I’ve put in a lot of good work. This has been a thought-out process and something I really want to pursue and I feel like I can still make a difference at the big-league level.”
Phillips now joins a Yankees organization known for maximizing its relievers’ potential. It’s unclear which level of affiliated ball Phillips will join first, but with his powerful fastball, he could be fast-tracked back to the Majors.
