WATCH: Rhys Hoskins receives massive standing ovation in return to Citizens Bank Park

Former Phillies first baseman and DH Rhys Hoskins made his long-awaited return to South Philadelphia as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers tonight. He was one of the most beloved players in recent Phillies history, and fans made sure to welcome him back with a raucous standing ovation for his first at-bat.

Rhys Hoskins received a warm welcome from the CBP crowd as he stepped to the plate:

Welcome back, Rhys Hoskins. 🫡#RingTheBell | #Phillies pic.twitter.com/gotQmyiKRU

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) June 3, 2024

Phillies fans are just the best, man. And this right here is further proof of that fact.

The fans and the players handled the whole moment with class. JT Realmuto even headed to the mound to ensure Hoskins wasn’t hit with a pitch clock violation while he soaked it all in.

I will say hearing “Slide” play over the CBP sound system one last time was pretty damn cool. I won’t sit here and say I cried or anything, but the goosebumps hit me like a Mack truck.

Notably, Rhys is the only returning player to have his walkup song played since Chase Utley. Some were quick to point out that Utley and Hoskins are pretty far apart in terms of being franchise legends, but that’s ignoring the bigger picture here.

Rhys Hoskins had been through the gauntlet as a member of the Phillies since he debuted in August 2017. Just look at this roster, for crying out loud.

He may not have won a championship like Utley, but his performances in the 2022 Postseason cemented him as a fan favorite, and rightfully so.

Here’s another angle provided by the incomparable Alex Coffey. Phillies fans really are second to none.

A standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/QIW7ZM6k96

— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) June 3, 2024

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