Phillies news: Michael Bourn lends helping hand for tenants

Former Phillies outfielder Michael Bourn, dealt to Houston for eventual-champion Brad Lidge, has made a great gesture to help his apartment complex tenants.

Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Michael Bourn used to make baseball fans happy with his speed on the base paths, eye-catching glove in the outfield, and quick bat at the plate; now, he’s bringing happiness to those in his hometown when they need it most.

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The 11-year Major League veteran lives in Houston, where he grew up and where he also was traded by the Phillies in November 2007, with Mike Costanzo and Geoff Geary, for eventual 2008 World Series champions Brad Lidge and Eric Bruntlett.

In Houston, Bourn owns three apartment complexes with about 60 tenants; his concern for how they are doing during the COVID-19 pandemic led him to make an extremely kind gesture. “For all my tenants, I waived their rent for April,” Bourn recently told FOX26. “Within the next week or so, I’m probably going to waive their rent for May just because of the crisis that we are in.”

“I think it is the best thing to do to help those out that are in need.”

Across 122 games in red pinstripes with the Phillies in 2006 and 2007, Bourn slashed .268/.340/.362 with 34 hits, six RBI, 19 stolen bases, 14 walks and 24 strikeouts spanning 122 games and 144 plate appearances. He made just 15 starts in those 122 games, all coming in 2007, the first year the Phillies qualified for the postseason since losing the 1993 World Series to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bourn says waiving the rent for his tenants at this time so they can have those funds can be helpful in that “some people get laid off or some people need that for groceries or for whatever it is they need around the house.”

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After being traded to the Astros, Bourn played 541 games in his hometown through parts of the 2011 season, before logging 254 games with the Atlanta Braves (2011-12, 15), 331 with the Cleveland Indians (2013-15), 89 with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2016) and 24 with the Baltimore Orioles (2016).

Bourn earned two All-Star nods in his career (2010, 2012), two Gold Gloves (2009-10), and led the National League in stolen bases three consecutive years.

“There’s just a lot of things going on in the world right now, that I think that the people that can help, need to help,” Bourn says. “If you are able to do that, I feel like you should be able to lend a helping hand.”

“That’s what I’m doing right now.”