‘Tampa Bay will never forget him’: Twitter reacts to Rays dropping Brett Phillips
There will not be any airplane celebrations in the Tampa Bay area today, following the news that the Rays have designated outfielder Brett Phillips for assignment.
Tampa Bay acquired Houston centerfielder Jose Siri in a three-way trade with the Astros and Orioles and dropped Phillips to make room. Pitching prospects Seth Johnson and Jayden Murray were sent to Baltimore and Houston, respectively.
Phillips, a Seminole native and fan favorite, is best known for his mad dash to the outfield, spreading his arms like airplane wings, after his hit led to a walkoff win over the Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2020 World Series.
In a Twitter video posted from his verified account, Phillips told fans it has “been an absolute pleasure and honor to play” for his hometown team.
“I appreciate each and every one of y’all for the support the last couple years,” Phillips said. “... Until next time, and never forget, baseball is fun, baby. God bless.”
Here is how Twitter reacted to the news:
Contact Mari Faiello at mfaiello@tampabay.com. Follow @faiello_mari.
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