Brandon Phillips Is Still Dat Dude | Baseball, Team Ownership & Brotherhood

Brandon Phillips Is Still Dat Dude | Baseball, Team Ownership & Brotherhood

by | May 27, 2021 | THE LEAD OFF

Brandon Phillips is still living up to the moniker “Dat Dude” after launching a moon shot to left field during a recent exhibition game as his Lexington Legends took on the Florence Y’alls of the Atlantic League. 

Yes. HIS Lexington Legends. Retirement hasn’t been too bad for Phillips as he’s part-owner of the team and gets to play and be managed by his brother.

 

 

 The home run and bat flip is the stuff of legend. 

After his debut with the Legends in 2020, Phillips must have made an excellent impression on ownership because they made him a partner. He accounted for six RBIs, five hits, three runs, and two homers in ten games. 

In a press release distributed to the media, President and CEO of the Legends Organization Andy Shea said, “Everybody Knows Brandon for his passion on the field. But some people may not know that Brandon is an amazing father who lives life with a family-first mindset and has an incredible baseball and business network, which all fits perfectly with the Lexington Legends.”

Said Phillips: “I’m really honored for this opportunity to become part-owner of the Lexington Legends. I’ve got so much to give to this game. Last year, working with Andy showed me how to run a business, and that became one of my goals. I know what it takes to win and for me to be able to build my portfolio off the field is a blessing. I love this city of Lexington and the people of the Tri-State community.”

Before his return to the Minor Leagues, the former All-Star second baseman was a staple for the Cincinnati Reds. In his 11 seasons with the franchise, he accumulated 1,774 hits, 194 bases on balls, and a whopping 191 dingers.

Like most aging stars, Phillips later became a journeyman as he bounced around the league before landing with the 2018 Boston Red Sox for his final nine games of his career.

 

 

Before walking away from the big leagues, the highly decorated 17-year veteran left his mark in the show. He achieved four Gold Gloves, three All-Star game appearances, a Silver Slugger award, and a 2018 World Series Championship with the Red Sox mentioned above. 

So, why would a guy with such an established career play in the minors?

“It’s My brother,” said Phillips. “If it wasn’t for my brother, I don’t know what I would’ve been doing. But it’s the love I have for this game, and I’m going to keep on playing till I don’t love it anymore. I’m just happy to be here in this city and to be playing for my younger brother.”

 

 

Phillips joined his younger brother P.J. Phillips who is the current Manager of the Legends. P.J. is no slouch. P.J. is a very accomplished pro, who played in the Minors and the Independent Leagues from 2005 to 2017, winning a title as a player in 2013 for the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.

During his first campaign as Manager for the Vallejo Admirals, P.J. proved he had golden managerial skills as he navigated his quad to the 2017 Pacific Association Championship in year one.

“He brought extra excitement to the team as we were going through a bad stretch at the time,” said P.J.,  about his brother’s arrival on the team. “If you don’t know Brandon, he loves the game of baseball, he loves teaching it, and he motivates these guys to play hard by sliding and taking the extra bases.”

 

 

Shea called the moment incredible for his organization and the game of baseball. The celebrity and legend of The Phillips Boys has already enhanced the profile of the team.

The Legends will travel to New York to take on the Long Island Ducks for the season opener on May 28. The organizations’ home opener will take place at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky June 1.

 Let’s see if the current player-partner can still be “Dat Dude.”