Heath Phillips

Heath Michael Phillips

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 3", Weight 225 lb.
• School Lake City Community College
• High School Central High School (Evansville)
• Debut September 5, 2007
• Final Game September 30, 2007
• Born March 24, 1982 in Evansville, IN USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Heath Phillips was a left-handed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox organization. Chicago drafted the Indiana native in the 10th round of the 2000 amateur draft as a "draft-and-follow". He was signed by scouts Larry Grefer and Doug Laumann in May of 2001. A soft tosser who relied on control and savvy, scouts compared Phillips to a lesser Mark Buehrle. After compiling nearly 1,000 minor league innings, Phillips made his major league debut with the White Sox in September of 2007. This turned out to be his only taste of the major leagues.

The White Sox sent Phillips to the single-A Kannapolis Intimidators in the spring of 2001. He appeared in 14 games and posted a 3.64 ERA in his first professional season. He pitched for the Winston-Salem Warthogs in 2002, and despite a 3.55 ERA, the southpaw's record fell to 6-16. In 2003, Phillips bounced between Kannapolis, Winston-Salem, and the Birmingham Barons. He remained in Birmingham until being granted a promotion to the Charlotte Knights in 2005.

2006 proved to be a banner year in the young pitcher's career. Phillips was named the International League's most valuable pitcher, and he earned a spot on the IL's All-Star team. His season totals included a 13-5 record and a 2.96 ERA. He was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in the qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics, helping the US clinch an entry. He allowed 1 run in 6 innings in a victory against Team Canada, which had four hitters with MLB experience, and allowed 1 in 7 innings against the Dominican Republic. Phillips tied Nick Ungs and Zack Segovia for the US lead in wins in the tournament.

He had a 13-7 record and a 4.30 ERA in 2007 before being called up to Chicago in September. Phillips surrendered a run and took the loss in his major league debut on September 5th, but bounced back with a scoreless inning and a win in his second appearance. Overall, he went 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in 6 outings for the Sox. These turned out to be his only major league games.

He signed with the New York Yankees before the 2008 season, but struggled in the minors, which led to his being released in July, before finishing the year with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was 3-4, 5.50 for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees and 1-1, 2.86 with the Durham Bulls, being used as a swingman by both teams. In 2009, he moved to the Kansas City Royals, who returned him to a full-time starting role with the AAA Omaha Royals. He went 8-7, 4.99 in 27 games. He played one more season of affiliated ball in 2010, returning to the Rays' system as a starter for Durham. He put up his best numbers in four years, finishing at 8-7, 4.07 in 24 starts and 139 1/3 innings, but, once again, he failed to get a return call to the Show. He played two more seasons of professional baseball, pitching in the independent leagues in 2011 and 2012. Both seasons were in the Atlantic League, the firsat for the Long Island Ducks and the second with the Sugar Land Skeeters. He was 1-3. 4.91 in 10 starts for the Ducks, and 1-7, 4.73 in 20 games for the Skeeters. At 30, he had reached the end of the line and retired from the game after 10 seasons.

Notable Achievements

• 2006 Pitcher of the Year International League Durham Bulls