Patrick James "P. J." Phillips (born September 23, 1986) is an American former professional baseball player and current manager of the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was previously the manager of the Lexington Legends and the Vallejo Admirals. He is the brother of former Major League second baseman Brandon Phillips. Phillips was most recently the manager of the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league.
| P. J. Phillips | |
|---|---|
| Charleston Dirty Birds | |
| Manager | |
| Born: September 23, 1986 Newport News, Virginia | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Playing career
editPhillips was a second-round draft choice of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim where he played six seasons in their organization. In 2012, he played for the Louisville Bats, the AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.[1] Over 590 affiliated games, Phillips held a .248 average with 40 career home runs and 223 runs batted in.
In 2013, he signed with the Long Island Ducks where he would begin his independent baseball playing career.[2] In 2014, Phillips signed with the Vallejo Admirals before signing with the Camden Riversharks in the middle of August. In 2015, Phillips would return to the Admirals where he would play the remainder of his career through the 2017 season.
Coaching career
editVallejo Admirals
editWhile playing with the Admirals in 2016, Phillips would take the reins as manager after the team started a slow 11–16. In 2017, Phillips would claim his first Pacific Association championship in a victory against the Sonoma Stompers.[3] This strong finish earned him co-manager of the year honors.[4] Over parts of four seasons, Phillips held a 128–145 record with the Admirals.
Lexington Legends
editIn 2021, Phillips became the manager of the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League.[5] After finishing 60–60 in the regular season, the Legends defeated the Charleston Dirty Birds in the semi-finals and Long Island Ducks in the championship.[6] This victory gave Phillips his second championship as a manager. Over two seasons, Phillips held a 116–136 record as manager of the Legends.
New Jersey Jackals
editOn November 7, 2022, Phillips was named manager of the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League.[7] In his only season with the Jackals, Phillips led them to a 60–35 2023 regular season record. They defeated the Sussex County Miners in the wild card game and were then defeated by the Québec Capitales in the semi-finals.
Charleston Dirty Birds
editOn November 13, 2023, Phillips was named manager of the Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League.[8]
Managerial record
editAs of September 28, 2024
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Won | Lost | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| VAL | 2016 | 51 | 21 | 30 | .412 | 4th | – | – | – | |
| VAL | 2017 | 78 | 36 | 42 | .462 | t-2nd | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | Won championship (SON) |
| VAL | 2018 | 80 | 37 | 43 | .463 | 3rd | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost semi-final (SRF) |
| VAL | 2019 | 64 | 34 | 30 | .531 | 3rd | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost wild card (NAPA) |
| VAL total | 273 | 128 | 145 | .469 | 1 | 2 | .333 | |||
| LEX | 2021 | 120 | 60 | 60 | .500 | 2nd in ATL South | 5 | 2 | .714 | Won championship (LI) |
| LEX | 2022 | 132 | 56 | 76 | .424 | 4th in ATL South | – | – | – | |
| LEX total | 252 | 116 | 136 | .460 | 5 | 2 | .714 | |||
| NJ | 2023 | 95 | 60 | 35 | .632 | 2nd in FL East | 2 | 2 | .500 | Lost semi-final (QC) |
| NJ total | 95 | 60 | 35 | .632 | 2 | 2 | .500 | |||
| CHS | 2024 | 126 | 69 | 57 | .548 | 3rd in ATL South | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost championship (YORK) |
| CHS total | 126 | 69 | 57 | .548 | 3 | 4 | .429 | |||
| Total [9] | 746 | 373 | 373 | .500 | 11 | 10 | .524 | |||
References
edit- ^ "P.J. Phillips". MLB. February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Ducks Watch: P.J. Phillips keeps striving to reach majors". bewsday.com. July 15, 2013. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Vallejo Admirals are 2017 Pacific Association champions". Times Herald Online. August 29, 2018. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Takashi Miyoshi, PJ Phillips win dual manager of the year awards". Stompers Baseball. November 9, 2017. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Longtime Vallejo Admirals manager PJ Phillips signs with Lexington Legends". Times Herald Online. February 18, 2021. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Lexington Legends win their third straight minor league title". kentucky.com. October 19, 2021. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "P.J. PHILLIPS NAMED NEW JERSEY MANAGER". Frontier League. November 7, 2022. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "P.J. Phillips to manage Dirty Birds in 2024". Atlantic League. November 13, 2023. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "P.J. Phillips". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 29, 2024.