Brandon Phillips to sign 1-day contract, retire as a Cincinnati Red

A former Cincinnati Reds star is rejoining the team for one day only.

Brandon Phillips, a 2026 Reds Hall of Fame inductee, will sign a ceremonial one-day contract and officially retire as a Red on April 25.

“Brandon Phillips was an incredible baseball player. He brought a style and personality that Reds fans absolutely loved,” Reds President and CEO Phil Castellini said in a press release.

October 7, 2012: Brandon Phillips is all smiles in the ninth inning as the Reds take on the San Francisco Giants in the 2012 National League Division Series Game 2 at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

“He was a cornerstone of our club and one of the most dynamic players in the game. The connection he built with this city was real and retiring him as a Red is our chance to honor that unforgettable relationship,” Castellini continued.

Phillips spent 11 seasons in Cincinnati from 2006-16, earning three All-Star selections, four Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger award. The second baseman also played for the then-Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox during his 17 seasons in Major League Baseball.

"For me to be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, it really means a lot," Phillips previously said.

"I’m happy that I can say that I’m here. Just to be in the class with everybody that’s going in right now, it’s a blessing. And also for the people that were before me in the Reds Hall of Fame, when I was with the Reds, for me to go see them have their speeches and meet everybody. One of my favorite Reds is Eric Davis. Barry Larkin. I have a lot of stories and I have a lot of history, and for me to say ‘I’m a Red for life,’ it really means a lot."