One of the questions the Philadelphia Phillies have heading into the 2023-24 off-season is what happens next with Rhys Hoskins.
The Phillies’ first baseman is the longest-tenured position player on the team and following a season-ending ACL tear in March of 2023, there is a real chance Rhys has played his last game for the club.
With Bryce Harper potentially playing first base for the long haul and the team’s shift into valuing defense over offense, there may simply not be a spot for Rhys Hoskins.
While his future is up in the air, I think a trip down memory lane would be good for the heart, as we look back on what a memorable Phillies tenure Hoskins has delivered.
Rhys Lightning
For those fans out there who stuck with this team at their worst, you may remember what it was like when Rhys Hoskins made his MLB debut.
Rhys was like a breath of fresh air for the 2017 Phillies. A lineup featuring Tommy Joseph, Cesar Hernandez, and Maikel Franco was not exactly a pleasant viewing experience.
Rhys was called up on August 10, 2017, in a game against the New York Mets. It would take three games before Rhys finally got his first hit, but he was able to do so at Citizens Bank Park.
When the Phillies took a road trip to San Diego for their next series, Rhys Hoskins would start to bang.
In his fourth game, Rhys Hoskins would hit his first career home run.
By his 34th big league game, he would have 18 home runs, setting a record for the most in that span. He was practically hitting a deep ball every other game, and his at-bats were must-see. Mind you, this Phillies team only won 66 games, yet they had a prospect who was making headlines.
It was the light at the end of the tunnel for the Phils. We finally had a prospect come to the big league level and shatter the glass ceiling. Hoskins’ took his opportunity and ran with it, turning him into the face of the Phillies.
Face of the Franchise
By the conclusion of the 2017 season, Rhys Hoskins had become the face of the Phillies.
Hoskins became the top jersey seller for the team, he was making media appearances, and fans were hoping that 2018 would be a year of promise for the Phillies.
In the off-season, the Phillies finally decided to start adding talent in the Free Agent pool.
The concept was strong but the execution was not. GM Matt Klentak signed veterans Jake Arrieta and Carlos Santana to the club while investing in the bullpen with Tommy Hunter and Pat Neshek.
Rhys Hoskins would make the move out to left field for the season, which was an odd choice, and one that would not last long.
A new manager in Gabe Kapler finished off the off-season changes while the Philadelphia Phillies tried to create a new identity. With Rhys leading the way, fans were hoping for a big jump from their team.
Fans got their wish for the most part, and on August 1st, 2018, the Phillies were 59-48, and in first place in the National League East. Rhys Hoskins was hitting .263 with 21 home runs and a .886 OPS through this point in the season and would participate in the MLB Home Run Derby.
The Phils would go 21-34 the rest of the way and miss out on the playoffs. While there was disappointment surrounding the team, the efforts they saw on the field gave the front office the courage to make big moves.
It would be this off-season that the team would sign Bryce Harper and we all know how that story goes.
Hoskins Has His Moment
From 2019-2021, Rhys would be a very good player on a very average Phillies team.
For whatever reason, it just felt like the Phillies could not get over the hump, but as one of the leaders on the team, Rhys and his teammates were determined to turn that around.
It was the 2022 season when the Phillies and Hoskins, who at this point was the third longest-tenured member of the team, would break through. Making the post-season for the first time in his career, Rhys and the Phillies finally got a taste of Red October.
After being cold to start his playoff tenure, Rhys Hoskins’ would once again catch that lightning bolt we saw from 2017.
In Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series, Hoskins would hit a three-run home run, giving the Phillies a 4-0 lead, and a bat spike that generations will remember.
From Game 3 on, Rhys would hit 6 home runs and drive in 12 RBIs for the Phillies in their magical 2022 run. The clutch playoff home runs were exactly what fans had envisioned back in August of 2017 and it felt so good to see one of our own shine in that moment.
Rhys’ Next Chapter
If you are reading this post you certainly know what happens next.
Rhys would unfortunately get injured in Spring Training and miss the entire 2023 campaign.
With the uncertainty of his baseball future in the balance, I wanted to thank Rhys for all of these incredible moments as a Phillie.
Hoskins should have a long baseball career ahead of him. He will be 31 at the start of next season, but his power swing can keep him in the game for a long time. No matter what team has him on their roster next season, they are getting a good ball player and an even better person.
In the limited exposure I had to Rhys, he appeared to me as a down-to-earth guy who really seemed to be a good person. By all accounts, his teammates share that same sentiment.
Rhys Hoskins will one day be enshrined in the Phillies Wall of Fame and I eagerly await being in attendance that day, to give him the round of applause he deserves.
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
