A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Phillips was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1999. He never came up to the majors while in the Montreal organization, and was traded to the Cleveland Indians in 2002. After making his Major League debut that same year for the Indians, he spent several years moving back and forth between the Indians' major-league team and the minor leagues. Phillips was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2006. After joining the Reds, Phillips developed into one of the best second basemen in baseball. During his tenure in Cincinnati, he won four Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, one Silver Slugger Award, and was selected to three National League All-Star teams. He became the first player in MLB history to record two 3-run home runs, 7 RBI's, 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 National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Phillips father, James Phillips, runs the Phillips Baseball Center in Pine Lake, Georgia. His sister is WNBA player Porsha Phillips of the San Antonio Silver Stars and his younger brother is minor league baseball player PJ Phillips.

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