Brandon Phillips is a little appalled the Cincinnati Reds didn't do a little more to honor his legacy.
Phillips, who spent 11 seasons with the Reds from 2006-16 before being traded to the Atlanta Braves in the offseason, returned to the city he called home for more than a decade for the first time this season as the Braves opened a three-game set in Cincinnati on Friday.
But, speaking candidly to reporters pregame, Phillips admitted he was a little displeased by his ex-team still allowing players to use his jersey number.
"I still can't believe that No. 4 ... somebody's wearing my number," Phillips told WLWT's Derek Forrest. "I think that's like a slap in my face, too, but it is what it what is.
"People have their own opinions and I have mine, and if they're going to respect it or not, like I said, I'm going to be myself regardless."
While Phillips can make a case for preserving his number on the Reds, the club opted to make fresh second baseman Scooter Gennett the new owner of Phillips' No. 4 this season, making him the 17th player in club history to don the digit.
But despite his dissatisfaction with the decision of his former employers, Phillips admitted he still had plenty of love for The Queen City.
"I'm wearing Cincinnati on my chest and I'm always going to be Mr. Cincinnati," he said.