Philadelphia Phillies: Could we see a Bamboo Brad reunion in 2021?

Could the Philadelphia Phillies see the return of Bamboo Brad this off season?

When Brad Miller was acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies from the New York Yankees back in June of 2019, his impact in the clubhouse was felt almost instantly. The team was mired in a brutal stretch of eight losses in nine games and needed a spark ever so badly. Well luckily, the veteran utility player was able to provide that spark; in a rather unique way.

After joining the roster, Miller visited Chinatown and purchased a bamboo plant for the club house. Coincidentally, the Phillies went on to sweep the New York Mets right after, and the legend of “Bamboo Brad “was born.

All in all, Miller would end up appearing in 66 games for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019 and honestly put up a pretty darn good season as a role player. He went on to slash .263/.331/.941 in red pinstripes to go along with 12 home runs and 21 runs batted in. Granted, his numbers were a tad inflated as he went on a ridiculous surge at the end of the season, which saw him slash .414/.433/.1.571 while smashing 7 long balls and driving in 10 runs in his final nine games. Still when all was said and done, his numbers were what they were, and for his role on the team they were rather impressive.

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Miller’s impact though ran much deeper than what he did in the batters box. His versatility in the field was so important, as he made appearances at third base, short stop, and both corner outfield positions. That quality can be overlooked at times, but having guys on your roster who can play essentially all over the diamond truly can make a difference for your ball club.

Heck, look at the Los Angeles Dodgers who are currently in the World Series; their roster is littered with guys who can play all over the field. It is an undervalued characteristic in players, and one the Philadelphia Phillies would be wise to begin to implement.

Additionally, Miller made an incredibly positive impact in the club house. He was very well liked by all of his teammates, and was said to be a high character guy who was always positive and invested even when things weren’t going particularly well. Of course, it is good to be real at times when things are rocky, but also having that calming presence can play a key role; especially for the younger guys on the roster.

Miller found himself with the St. Louis Cardinals during the 2020 season after signing a one-year/$2 million dollar deal with them last offseason. Ultimately, Miller provided the same type of impact he did in his time with the Philadelphia Phillies, as he once again played several different positions on the diamond; all the while slashing .232/.357/.807 along with 7 home runs and 25 runs batted in. While his batting average took a dive, he still was able to drive the baseball pretty consistently, and his on base skills improved dramatically this past season.

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As we head into this offseason with many questions needing to be answered for the Philadelphia Phillies, a reunion with Bamboo Brad may be in the cards. Bench depth will be needed, and with the possibility of the designated hitter sticking for good in the National League, having a guy like Miller who can play all over the diamond would allow the Phils’ to get different guys off their feet while still keeping their bat in the lineup.

I don’t see why there wouldn’t be interest on both sides of this kind of reunion, and for the right price, maybe we will see Bamboo Brad back with the Philadelphia Phillies after all.

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