NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Medicine Hat Mavericks outfielder Jordan Phillips squares up a pitch for a home run in the Mavs' 5-3 win July 28 at Athletic Park over the Swift Current 57's.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
The man they call ‘Big Diesel’ has been all gas, no breaks this season for the Medicine Hat Mavericks.
Outfielder Jordan Phillips has made his offensive prowess known early and often this WCBL summer, reaching a level that has him against the league’s best and nearing record levels.
Phillips finished his second season in the WCBL, playing for the Edmonton Prospects in 2022, near the league leaders in a couple categories. The Houston, Tex. product hit nine home runs with 62 RBIs, tallying 85 hits with a .351 batting average in 55 games. His 85 hits, tied with teammate Marshall Burke, was first in the WCBL, and his 62 RBIs was second to another teammate, Nick Thibodeau (63).
Phillips credits his teammates for the ability to be near the top of the league offensively.
“They’re always getting on for me, getting in scoring position,” Phillips said. “Even the bottom of our lineup, the seven, eight and nine-hole guys down there, doing their jobs out there. As long as we’re one through nine doing our jobs, not being selfish, then we can swing it all the way through.”
Heading into the final weekend of the season, Phillips was tracking toward the WCBl record for single season RBIs (66) and hits (90). While falling short, he says being near the top was a goal and again credited his fellow Mavs for the chance at the records.
“I just feed off my teammates and they keep the energy up and then I’ll keep the energy going,” Phillips said. “We just feed off of each other, we’ve got a good group here.”
That energy Phillips brings can be felt in the Mavs’ locker room and on the field as the big lefty bat isn’t afraid to show off his arm in right field, with six outfield assists on the year.
Phillips will look to play a big role for the Mavs as they get their playoffs underway, facing the Saskatoon Berries in the best-of-three semifinals. Game 1 was Wednesday night at Athletic Park with Game 2 tonight at Saskatoon. A Game 3, if needed, would turn back to Athletic Park on Friday.
In eight games against the Berries, Phillips has 16 hits with two home runs, 13 RBIs, 10 runs scored and a .457 batting average. He’s looking forward to a packed Athletic Park throughout the playoffs and he’s embraced having the fan support, something he didn’t experience in his first WCBL stint.
“It’s nice playing in front of a crowd that’s going to be behind you the whole time, rooting for you,” Phillips said. “When I played in Edmonton, I never heard anybody screaming my name out on the field. So it’s nice to have a crowd behind you that is there for you through thick and thin.”
Phillips looks to set the tone every day in the lineup and on the field and he brings a presence that head coach Kevin Mitchell says can’t be replicated.
“He brings a lot of energy into this group, he’s an older guy and he’s the leader on this team and he does it vocally,” Mitchell said. “He does it with how hard he plays and his talent he’s shown all summer long. We’re definitely not the team we are without a Jordan Phillips. So for him to be setting the tone and continuing to do that is huge.
“You need a guy like that and he’s been great for us.”
Game 1 was not complete by press time, visit medicinehatnews.com/sports for a full game story.
