Their participation continues an impressive run for a Redan program that won its first baseball state championship this spring.
“I think Redan is doing something right,” Phillips said. “I’m very happy for what they’re doing. I’m very happy for Atlanta, Ga., period to have an opportunity to get (here). But Stone Mountain is where it’s at.”
Phillips, 32, who graduated in 1999 from Redan, was drafted in the second round by the Montreal Expos. Brown spent only his senior season at Redan but it was a very purposeful decision. He had been living with his mother in Pasco County (Fla.), north of Tampa when he decided to move in with his father in Atlanta, where he thought he could get better exposure.
“In Pasco County, baseball is not really that big,” Brown said. “In Atlanta, I know about East Cobb and all those great programs, so I wanted to go up there and show what I had.”
The cost was high, though. Brown lost a full season of eligibility. His parents entered a very heated and public custody battle, and Brown and his mother didn’t speak for two years.
But living with his father in Stone Mountain he got the exposure he needed, was drafted in the 20th round by the Phillies and was rewarded with a $200,000 bonus, the equivalent then of fifth-round money. He came up through the minors as one of the top prospects in baseball.
“It was me growing up as a man when I moved to Georgia,” Brown said. “It made me the man that I am today.”
He used the experiences to overcome one challenge after another over the past three seasons with the Phillies. Brown hit only .236 in intermittent major league action. He went from heir apparent to Jayson Werth in right field to a guy general manager Ruben Amaro admitted the Phillies mistakenly rushed to the major leagues.
But Brown came to spring training in February with a clear mind, hit seven home runs and carried it over into the season. He entered the All-Star break third in the National League with 23 home runs. His 10 home runs in May were the most in a month for any Phillies slugger since Ryan Howard had 11 in August 2009. Now Brown is the one batting cleanup.
Could he have envisioned being an All-Star back in February?
“I had to envision that,” Brown said. “I think if I would have envisioned something else, lower expectations, I don’t think I would have been here.”
Admiring it all from a distance was Phillips. He could relate to the ups and downs Brown endured. Phillips was traded to the Reds in 2006 after falling out of favor with Cleveland manager Eric Wedge. Phillips had played 112 games with the Indians as a 22-year-old, but only 12 major league games over the next two seasons.
“The thing is though, it made him a stronger person,” Phillips said of the adversity Brown faced. “Like I told him, I said ‘You aren’t the only person who went through things. I went through things when I was with the Indians. And for you to get a second chance and go out there and take advantage of it, it’s a beautiful thing and I’m very proud of you.’”
For Phillips this is a chance to take the next step in his veteran career, getting voted in in the eyes of fans, taking pride in being elected by the fans for the first time in his career. He is also getting a kick out of becoming the second Phillips brother to play with Brown. Brandon’s younger brother P.J. played with Brown at Redan.
“It’s nice just to be here and represent Stone Mountain, Ga. and Redan High School with him,” Phillips said.
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