Heath Phillips

Infobox MLB player
name=Heath Phillips
position=Pitcher
team=Tampa Bay Rays
number=--
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1982|3|24
debutdate=September 5
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Chicago White Sox
statyear=2007
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=1-1
stat2label=Earned run average| stat2value=3.86
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=2
teams=
*Chicago White Sox (by|2007)

Heath Michael Phillips (born March 24, 1982 in Evansville, Indiana) is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He bats and throws left-handed.

He graduated from Evansville Central High School in 2000. He attended Lake City Community College in Florida.

In college, he went 7-6 with a 3.09 ERA and 117 strikeouts in by|2001. As a designated hitter, he batted .324 with 6 home runs and led the state in doubles (24) and RBI (68).

He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the by|2000 Major League Baseball draft in the 10th round as the 292nd overall pick. He did not sign with the White Sox until May 12, 2001.

In by|2006, Phillips played the whole season with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. He was named the International League's Most Valuable Pitcher after going 13-5 with a 2.96 ERA.

In by|2007, Phillips began the year at Charlotte again. He finished the season going 13-7 with a 4.30 ERA in 28 starts. He was rewarded with a September callup after the minor league season was over when rosters expanded.

Major League career

In Phillips first two major league games, which were relief appearances, he got a win and a loss. Phillips made his major league debut on September 5, 2007, against the Detroit Tigers. He got the loss against the Tigers when he came into the game in the bottom of the 11th inning. He had two outs when he gave up the game winning single to Timo Pérez. In his second career game, on September 7, Phillips got the win against the Minnesota Twins. He had once again pitched in the extra innings, this time coming into the game in the top of the 13th inning. He pitched just that inning as the White Sox won the game in the bottom of the 13th inning.

On January 5, by|2008, he signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees. He was released by the Yankees on July 19, 2008. On July 29, 2008, Phillips signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays.

External links

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