Rhys Hoskins is a big name first baseman in Major League Baseball. Although Hoskins has always showed promise as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, we have never seen him put together a full MLB season where his true potential is on full display. Hoskins is entering the 2021 season with much to prove on a team that desperately needs his bat in the middle of the order. He has the potential to be one of the premier hitters in the Major Leagues and the Phillies desperately need the best version of Rhys Hoskins if they want to make a run at what’s shaping up to be the toughest division in the MLB.

Rhys Hoskins turned a lot of heads his rookie season. In just 50 games, he had 18 HR, 48 RBIs, and a whopping 1.014 OPS. Although he is streaky at times, when Rhys Hoskins is hot, he’s one of the best offensive first basemen in Major League Baseball. Defensively, there’s a ton of room for improvement but Hoskins can make up for his average defense with a hot bat at the plate. Fielding comes with experience, and after getting moved around his rookie year and even into his second year, I believe this season is the time for Rhys to really settle in at first base and make it his home.

Over his last 22-games before his injury in 2020, Hoskins was hitting .275 with nine homers, 19 RBIs and a .979 OPS. Hoskins underwent Tommy John Surgery in early October and was expected to miss 4-6 months. He is expected to be ready to play at the start of the 2021 season.

How important is Rhys Hoskins to the Phillies success?

In the 2020 season, the Phillies were 8-2 when Hoskins hit a home run, and 11-4 when Hoskins had at least one RBI. The team was also 6-14 when Hoskins did not play, showing his importance to this Phillies team. In Phillies wins, Hoskins went .262/.398/.607/1.005. In Phillies losses, he sat at .224/.366/.373/.739 (@JonnyHeller). Rhys Hoskins has a huge impact on the Phillies, especially when they’re winning. With Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto in the lineup, it’s easy to overlook Rhys Hoskins but in my opinion he is the most crucial player in the lineup for the Phillies this year.

If you looked at this roster a few months back, there was not a ton of promise for this upcoming season. But with the recent signings of JT and Didi, and the improvement of the bullpen, this team is going to be scarier than people think. Playing in the toughest division in the league is not going to be easy by any means, but I believe this team has the talent to compete.

At 27 years old, Rhys Hoskins is entering his baseball prime and his success is crucial for a Phillies team trying to make the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade.

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Mandatory Credit: Matt Slocum | AP