The Phillies lost an impact bat, but more importantly, a leader in Rhys Hoskins
Phillies fans, players, and coaches held their breath yesterday as Rhys Hoskins jumped off his left leg and fell to the ground in pain in shallow left field.
Rhys went down with a non-contact knee injury on Thursday, which was later determined to be a torn ACL that would keep him out for the entire season. Hoskins, entering a contract year with the Phillies, was bound for a flashy 2023 campaign after his best full season with the Phillies capped off just a few months ago.
Hoskins, who made his debut with the team back in 2017, finally got to thrive in postseason baseball in 2022, and he was nothing short of fantastic, crushing six homers, a big reason for the Phillies’ success.
Hoskins has hit 27 or more home runs every full season of his career, minus the shortened season. His OPS+ hasn’t dipped below 110 his entire career. He’s averaged a .492 slugging percentage with the Phillies while averaging 31 doubles and 71 RBIs over the last two seasons.
How do you replace that? The Phillies have a few options. Emerging slugger Darick Hall seems to be the lead candidate for the 1st base position, but his struggles against lefties raise doubt. Alec Bohm has played innings at first base in the past, but the Phillies may be hesitant to move Bohm away from 3rd after his improvement in the 2nd half of last season.
The Phillies may look out of the house. CJ Cron is a name that fans have brought up a lot, a slugger for the Colorado Rockies. Cron feels more like a deadline move at the moment for the Rockies, which would leave the Phillies blank for a few months if that was their #1 route. Will Myers is a high-risk, high-reward guy whose bat could pop after a few weeks with Kevin Long.
Rhys Hoskins has influenced mixed emotions across the Phillies fanbase for years now. Hoskins is a streaky player, we know that. His defense isn’t the best of the best, we know that. But replacing a 30-homer backbone of your team is never an easy feat.
The Phillies lost a leader in Rhys Hoskins, which will hurt them the most.
When you think of the Phillies, who’s the first name that pops into your head? Bryce Harper, I’d assume. Maybe some of you say Schwarber, some will now say Trea after his dominance on the biggest stage in the game. But when you talk about a guy who’s been through it all, the highs and lows of the Phillies, you think of the longest-tenured position player, Rhys.
A staple in the Philadelphia community, Rhys and his wife Jayme have been advocates for charity since they got here, specifically the Muscle Dystrophy Association. They’ve bonded with fans, shared experiences, and have been there to help anyone in need, no matter the circumstance.
Hoskins has also morphed into a leader in the clubhouse throughout his time in Philadelphia. Back in 2019, Hoskins gave a quote from Michael Jordan that sums up what goes through his head and what he strives to be in this city.
“I wanted to work as hard as I could because I wanted to be able to ask the people around me to do the same thing. And that looks different for every person, right? But that kind of stuck with me. I’ve never really been a vocal guy. So if I can lead in a way by what I’m doing, how much I care, and the things I think need to be done for us to be successful — I think that’s a pretty good thing to be remembered for. I’d also like to be known as a winner before this is all done. I think we’re on our way to that.”
The Phillies were indeed on their way to that, no matter how long it took Rhys in red pinstripes. The team broke their 11-year playoff drought last year and brought this city one of the most memorable playoffs runs that we’ve ever seen. As for Rhys, his biggest moment as a Phillie came at no better time.
What does the future look like now for Rhys Hoskins? Nobody really knows. His contract is up after the season, and he’s set to hit the market as one of the best bats available. In an unfortunate way, Hoskins’ price has now dropped, and maybe that urges the Phillies to really want to bring him back.
Yesterday isn’t how Rhys Hoskins’ career should’ve ended in Philly, and I think the Phillies know that.
