Brandon Phillips reflects on his journey to the Reds Hall of Fame, recalling his designation for assignment by the Cleveland Indians in 2006 and how the Cincinnati Reds gave him a second chance. He describes feeling like a failure at that time but ultimately found success with the Reds.
Key points
Brandon Phillips was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians in 2006.
He felt like a failure after being cut despite a strong spring training.
The Cincinnati Reds acquired him before he hit the waiver wire.
Phillips later became a key player for the Reds.
He is now reflecting on his journey to the Reds Hall of Fame.
Phillips was a highly rated prospect seeking consistent playing time after just 135 games with Cleveland from 2002-2005. In 2006, he ran out of opportunities with Cleveland and was designated for assignment after what he described as the best spring training of his career.
âThey called me âfranchiseâ because I was supposed to be the future over there,â Phillips said. âThe spring training I had with the Indians in 2006 was the best I ever had. I thought I was going to make the team. I thought I was going to be âthe guy.â And then, next thing you know, I ended up getting designated ... felt like a failure for the first time in my career.â
Then, the Cincinnati Reds stepped forward to take Phillips before his name hit the waiver wire. The Reds swapped a âplayer to be named later,â who ended up being pitcher Jeff Stevens.
April 29, 2006: Reds' infielder Brandon Phillips throws to first for an out in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Great American Ballpark.
April 29, 2006: Reds' infielder Brandon Phillips throws to first for an out in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros at Great American Ballpark.
What led to Brandon Phillips being designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians?
Brandon Phillips was designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians in 2006 after a productive spring training, which left him feeling like a failure.
How did the Cincinnati Reds acquire Brandon Phillips?
The Cincinnati Reds acquired Brandon Phillips in 2006 by trading a 'player to be named later,' who turned out to be pitcher Jeff Stevens.
What impact did Brandon Phillips have on the Cincinnati Reds?
Brandon Phillips became a key player for the Cincinnati Reds, contributing significantly to the team's success and earning a place in the Reds Hall of Fame.
What were Brandon Phillips' feelings about his time with the Cleveland Indians?
Brandon Phillips felt disappointed and like a failure after being designated for assignment by the Indians, especially following what he considered his best spring training.
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Stevens never played a game for Cleveland. Phillips played more than 1,600 games for Cincinnati, and he became an immediate impact player, too, as he saw action in 149 games for the 2006 Reds and hit .276 with 148 hits.
In 2007, Phillipsâ name was on the fringes of the National League Most Valuable Player award conversation, and he received votes for the honor. The Cincinnati chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) voted Phillips the Ernie Lombardi Award winner as the team MVP. That season, he hit .288 with 187 hits, 30 of which were home runs. At that point, he was well on his way to an award-winning, 11-year stay with the Reds where he helped lead the club back to the postseason.
The trade was executed on Cincinnatiâs end by then-general manager Wayne Krivsky. Phillips said the call from Krivsky informing him of the deal âchanged my whole career, period.â Some consider the trade one of the best in the long history of the Reds franchise. Many others considered it the biggest steal of a trade in team history.
Cleveland.comâs Paul Hoynes would later write that organizationâs trade of Phillips damaged the Indians.
Phillips helped the Reds return to the postseason multiple times. The local BBWAA writers voted Phillips team MVP three times. He won four Rawlings Gold Glove awards in Cincinnati, and his electrifying defensive flair made him a regular on ESPN SportsCenterâs nightly top-10 plays segment.
âI was just playing the game, being flashy,â Phillips said. âBaseball was boring as hell to me, so I was basically just playing the game the best way I know how.â
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips throws to first base, but can't get the out against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips throws to first base, but can't get the out against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park.
Pitcher Aaron Harang, a teammate of Phillips who is also a member of the Reds Hall of Fame 2026 class, said having Phillips behind him defensively was a relief.
âIt was pretty nice to be able to have a guy there that, the ball goes his direction and pretty much everything routine was getting made," Harang said. "Youâre also gonna get a highlight reel on top of that, at times, of just spectacular glove work and plays made up the middle or in the 3-4 hole to help save a run here and there
âTo have that backing you up was always amazing. What he did at the plate and the excitement and energy he just brought was definitely a contagious thing. You definitely played off of it as teammates.â
Phillips was one of the prominent social media athlete-stars on Twitter in his era, and his boisterous social media presence was backed up by on-field results as he was also a three-time MLB All-Star during his Reds career (2010-2011, 2013). He accomplished that feat during an era in the National League when he was competing for the honor against the likes of Philadelphiaâs Chase Utley, a possible future Hall of Famer, Miamiâs Dan Uggla and San Franciscoâs Jeff Kent.
June 12, 2006: Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips warms up to bat during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.
June 12, 2006: Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips warms up to bat during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park.
Even as the honors accumulated and his reputation for consistency was cemented, Phillips said he never thought of himself as carving out a place in Reds history during his playing days. Rather, he appreciated the greatness around him and looked looked up to the likes of Ken Griffey Jr. early in his Reds career. The two men overlapped in Cincinnati from 2006-2008. Phillips said he also admired his manager, Dusty Baker, and credited Scott Rolen with teaching the team how to win.
Whether Phillips anticipated ascending to the heights of the Reds Hall of Fame or not, his name is now etched in club history.
"For me to be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame, it really means a lot," Phillips said. "Iâm happy that I can say that Iâm here. Just to be in the class with everybody thatâs going in right now, itâs 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, you know, 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 âIâm a Red for life,â it really means a lot."
Brandon Phillips highlights
APRIL 29, 2011: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo (61) second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) and third baseman Scott Rolen (27) hold their 2010 Gold Glove awards during a ceremony before the in the first inning.
APRIL 29, 2011: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo (61) second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) and third baseman Scott Rolen (27) hold their 2010 Gold Glove awards during a ceremony before the in the first inning.
