He became the first player in MLB history to record two three-run home runs, seven RBIs, and two stolen bases in one game.

Following this performance, the uniform and pair of cleats he wore during that game were put on display in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

[4][5][6] Phillips attended Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia,[7] where he played basketball and baseball.

Phillips' favorite baseball player growing up was Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin.

[8] Phillips was selected in the second round of the 1999 MLB draft by the Montreal Expos as a shortstop after signing a letter of intent to play both baseball and football at the University of Georgia.

He was recalled soon after that due to an injury to one of his teammates and finished the season with a .208 average, six homers, 33 RBIs and four stolen bases.

In his four seasons with the Indians, Phillips appeared in 135 major league games, batting .206 with six home runs and 38 RBIs.

On April 7, 2006, Cleveland's frustration with Phillips' slow progress peaked and he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later (pitcher Jeff Stevens).

Phillips produced two nine-game hitting streaks over the season and finished with a batting average of .276, 17 home runs and 75 RBI.

On August 30, Phillips made the play of the month to win the game for the Reds against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

With the Reds winning 5–4 in the bottom of the ninth, Nate McLouth of the Pirates hit a single into right field.

At the All-Star Break, Phillips was batting .287 with 15 home runs, 58 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and 18 doubles.

[15] Phillips won his first gold glove in 2008, leading National League second basemen with a .990 fielding percentage having made just seven errors in 706 chances,[16][17] in addition to a 78-game error-less streak.

"[21] The next night, August 10, Phillips was involved in a large bench-clearing brawl between the Reds and Cardinals at home plate.

The ensuing bench clearing melee included Johnny Cueto kicking Jason Larue in his face resulting in injuries that ended his career.

On May 3, 2011, against the Houston Astros, Phillips threw out speedy Jason Bourgeois by picking up the ball barehanded as it rolled to him and throwing it to first baseman Joey Votto between his legs to record the out.

After several great plays in the field earned him fame around the country and his average stayed around .300 the whole first half, Phillips made his second straight All-Star game.

Reds manager Dusty Baker took exception at retired St. Louis Cardinals manager but the National League's All-Star Game manager Tony La Russa, claiming Phillips and fellow Reds teammate Johnny Cueto were left off the roster because they were at the heart of an on-field fight involving Baker's Reds and La Russa's Cardinals in 2010.

Phillips, who was hitting just under .290 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI at the time the selections were announced, declined to comment on the matter.

[26] USA Today's Mike Jones mentioned the large number of votes for San Francisco Giants players, including Pablo Sandoval (.300, 6 HR, 25 RBI) who was named the All-Star game's third baseman over New York Mets' David Wright (over .350, 9 HR, 50 RBI) was responsible for "taking away an infield spot.

Phillips hit .266 with 12 home runs and 74 RBI, good enough to earn him the starting second baseman spot on the National League team in the All-Star Game.

Phillips was placed on the disabled list July 11, 2014, after suffering a torn thumb ligament while diving for a ground ball in a game against the Chicago Cubs.

[33] Phillips hit two home runs and stole two bases against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 30, becoming only the 15th player—and second Red—to have a multi-homer, multi-steal game since 1901.

On February 12, 2017, Phillips waived his no-trade clause and was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league pitchers Andrew McKirahan and Carlos Portuondo.

[37] He made a late-season position switch to third base to facilitate the promotion of Ozzie Albies to the major leagues.

[42] He made his Red Sox debut the following day, hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning to carry the Red Sox to a 9–8 victory over the Atlanta Braves, completing a comeback from Atlanta's 7–1 and 8–7 leads late in the game.

One of those five hits included a July 11 home run against the Steel City Slammin' Sammies at Washington Wild Things Park.

[53] In 2021, the Legends moved to the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and Phillips became a co-owner of the club in the offseason.

[55] He appeared in 54 games, posting a .276/.335/.507 line with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs, as the Legends went on to win the ALPB Championship.

[60][61] The Texas Smoke won the 2023 WPF regular season with a record of 22–14 and then swept the USSSA Pride in the inaugural Women's Professional Fastpitch championship series with an impressive 14–2 win.