A World Series for Phillips in Baltimore? 'Freaking awesome'

ARLINGTON -- Few well-acquainted with baseball don’t already know the infectious personality of Brett Phillips. The new Orioles outfielder, acquired from the Rays in exchange for cash considerations before Tuesday's Trade Deadline, did much to endear himself to Baltimore just in case anyone wasn't already familiar.

"I'm here, and I'm looking to win a World Series with the Baltimore Orioles," Phillips said with a wide smile on Wednesday in Texas, sitting in the same ballpark he walked off Game 4 of the 2020 Fall Classic. "That would be freaking awesome."

That's the infectious attitude the Orioles welcomed into the clubhouse. Phillips, proprietor of numerous viral moments and the "Baseball is fun" merchandise line, joined his new team for the first time on Wednesday. The 28-year-old defense-first outfielder brings with him a clubhouse presence already well known to the Orioles -- both given past relationships and from the opposing dugout -- as well as resembling their only big league acquisition at the Deadline.

"I'm excited to join this clubhouse," Phillips said. "The energy, the way these guys are playing baseball -- I mean, it's night and day from last year, last couple of years, and I'm excited to be joining."

Phillips, high school classmates with Orioles reliever Joey Krehbiel and drafted by Mike Elias and the Astros in 2012, figures to come off the bench in Baltimore. The best defensive outfielder by the outs above average metric, he will get the chance to share an outfield with Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins -- "Studs. Absolute studs," he said -- but does have hopes of refinding his swing with the revamped analytical offerings in Baltimore. Phillips is slashing just .147/.225/.250 (.475 OPS) across 75 games this season.

It helps where Phillips will now call home. He owns an .892 lifetime OPS in 22 career games at Camden Yards, a number that grows to .973 when you add the 18 games he's played against them elsewhere in his career.

"I think I see the ball really well in Baltimore," Phillips said.

Such musings -- and his viral laugh -- are now to be the expected soundtrack around the Orioles' clubhouse. Many already are aware, and more will become accustomed.

"This is just who I've always been," Phillips said. "You guys will get to know that real quick, that what you see is what you get. … I love showing up to the ballpark. How can I not? I'm playing Major League Baseball."

Just take just take his jersey number for example: 66.

"Phillips 66."