Tony Phillips (minors02)

Anthony Lane Phillips

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 195 lb.

• School University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey College

• Born June 9, 1969 in Hattiesburg, MS USA

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Tony Phillips played for the USA national baseball team and in the minor leagues, reaching AAA.

Phillips was drafted by the New York Mets in the 19th round of the 1990 Amateur Draft, but he didn't sign. He represented the USA in the 1991 Pan American Games, winning a Bronze Medal. He went 2-1 with two saves and a 1.65 ERA for the US overall that summer, leading pitchers (2+ G) in ERA and tying John Dettmer for their most appearances (15). He was 6-4 with 13 saves and a 1.98 ERA, leading the Metro Conference in ERA by .69 ahead of teammate Marc Kubicki. In NCAA Division I, he tied for 5th in saves and was in the top 10 in ERA. He joined Bill Blanchette, Keith Garagozzo, Bobby Jones, Kennie Steenstra and Phil Stidham as the All-American pitchers according to Collegiate Baseball.

The Seattle Mariners selected him in the 19th round of the 1991 Amateur Draft, and he notched 12 saves with a 4-3 record and a 3.18 ERA for the San Bernardino Spirit in 1992. He was 7th in the California League in saves and only Troy Kent (21) had more saves by a Mariners farmhand. Phillips notched 15 saves with a 1.80 ERA in 25 relief outings for the Riverside Pilots in 1993, and he also had a solid 1.72 ERA with 5 saves in 27 games for the AA Jacksonville Suns. His 52 appearances led the M's system (one ahead of Shawn Barton) and he was second in saves, two behind Bob Worley. He was third in the California League in saves, behind John Pricher and Jeff Huber. He pitched 5 games with a 1.59 ERA for the Suns in 1994, but he struggled with the AAA Calgary Cannons as his ERA was 5.60 in 55 appearances with 5 saves. It should be noted that it was a high-octane environment, though, as the team ERA was 5.88 and they average 6.72 runs per game. He tied Jim Dougherty for 4th in the 1994 PCL in games pitched and led the Seattle system, 10 ahead of Rafael Carmona.

The Hattiesburg native went 3-2 with a 4.12 ERA in 47 games for the Tacoma Rainiers in 1995, walking only 14 in 87 1/3 IP. He was 5th in the Mariners chain in appearances, missing the league top-ten by two. He was 0-2 with 20 saves and a 2.21 ERA for Pastora de Occidente in the 1995-1996 Venezuela League, sharing Closer of the Year honors with Rich Garcés. He tied Porfi Altamirano's save record, broken a couple seasons later by Santos Hernandez. He was 1-3 with a 6.40 ERA for Tacoma in 1996. He moved to the Milwaukee Brewers system in the middle of the season, and he pitched 20 games with a 2.92 ERA for the New Orleans Zephyrs. Phillips recorded a 5.59 ERA in 29 relief outings for the Zephyrs in 1997, and his ERA was 5.09 in 11 appearances for the Edmonton Trappers, which were affiliated with the Oakland Athletics. That was his last season as a professional player. He transitioned quickly into coaching, being pitching coach of the 1998 Clinton Lumber Kings and 1999 Fort Wayne Wizards.