Milbank Family Member Marcus Phillips Drafted by Red Sox 

Marcus Phillips, a native of Sioux Falls with family ties to Milbank, was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 2025 MLB Draft on Sunday, July 13. Phillips, a right-handed pitcher, was chosen in the first round and 33rd overall. Polls had predicted him to go at around 60, but analysts say his speed and size – 6 foot-four and 246 pounds – added to his appeal.

Phillips has two seasons for Tennessee under his belt, including 36 appearances with 19 starts and a 4.11 ERA over 103 innings. He was the Volunteers second starter this past season and was instrumental in Tennessee clinching their first championship title in program history when they defeated Texas A&M at the 2024 College World Series.

Phillips could already boast one World Series appearance. He played in the 2017 Little League World Series on the first team from Sioux Falls ever to make it to Williamsport. 

He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls and began his college career at Iowa Western Community College before signing on with Tennessee. His father, Steve Phillips, played for the New York Yankees chain as an outfielder from 1991-95. Steve also spent 10 years coaching in the minors.

Marcus joins an elite group of South Dakotans. Only 0.002 percent of all Major League Baseball players in history have been from the Rushmore State. Marcus joins Sparky Anderson,  Dusty Coleman, Floyd Bannister, Carol Hardy, Mark Ellis, Terry Francona, Keith Foulke, Justin Duchscherer, and Sean Doolittle along with only about 30 others.  It is also rare for a native of South Dakota to be selected in the first round of the MLB draft. Chad McConnell was likely the most recent before Marcus, when he was drafted and signed with the Phillies in 1992.

Brandon Berens, owner of Berens Market in Milbank, congratulated his cousin on being chosen by the Red Sox and said, “I have memories watching Marcus all the way back to when he was in the Little League World Series and I remember thinking ‘Dang, he is a good ball player!’ When he got to Tennessee that’s when all the family and friends got on the Marcus Train. Pretty Crazy!” 

Marcus’s grandparents are Tom and Linda Pauli. Marcus’s mother Melissa and Michelle Berens are twins. Angie Ackerman is their younger sister. All three families live in Milbank. 

Brandon explained, “I am the oldest cousin and he is the youngest, and it is awesome to watch someone I have known so long work and put so much time into his dreams. I couldn’t be more proud of him and his accomplishments, and I can’t wait to see where he goes from here!”

Submitted Photos: Top Photo- Marcus and his family. Middle Photo -l to r, Bob, Austin and Michelle Berens, Marcus Phillips, Brandon, Ricky, Jack and Jani Berens. Bottom Photo- Cousins: Justin Ackerman, Brandon Berens, Marcus Phillips, Austin Berens and Chris Phillips.