The Philadelphia Phillies have spent the offseason focused on bringing back a pair of core members in Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, which were important moves, but another familiar face might rejoin the team if Bryce Harper gets his way.
The All-Star first baseman has encouraged the team to pursue free agent Rhys Hoskins, per Devan Kaney of SportsRadio 94WIP Philadelphia. The reporter adds that Hoskins would be interested in a reunion. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski wasn’t as enthused about the idea, per Kaney.
I’m told Hoskins is game
The Phillies took Hoskins in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. He spent the first six seasons of his career in Philadelphia. The first baseman finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2017. Hoskins had multiple 30-homer seasons during his time with the Phillies. A torn ACL cost him the entire 2023 campaign and ended his tenure with the club. Hoskins will turn 33 in March.
Bryce Harper Wanted the Philadelphia Phillies to Pursue Rhys Hoskins
Hoskins was a well-above league-average hitter in every season in Philadelphia. His “worst” wRC+ as a Philly was 112 in 2019. He still bashed 29 home runs that season. The unfortunate knee injury may have kept him from remaining in Philadelphia. The organization chose not to go after him in free agency after he recovered, instead watching him sign with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The return from the ACL tear didn’t go so well, as Hoskins slashed .214/.303/.419 in 2024 with the Brewers. He hit 26 home runs in 131 games, but also struck out at a career-high 28.8% clip. Hoskins seemed to be bouncing back this past season before an injury derailed his campaign. The 32-year-old delivered a .849 OPS through May as a key catalyst in the Brewers’ lineup. He scuffled in June, then went down with a thumb injury in early July.
While Hoskins was injured, Milwaukee went out and acquired first baseman Andrew Vaughn in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. The former No. 3 overall pick dominated after the change of scenery. Vaughn’s emergence forced Hoskins into a bench role once he came back from the thumb issue. The veteran was then left off the postseason roster.
Is There Room For Hoskins in Philadelphia?
After retaining Schwarber, there didn’t seem to be an obvious spot for a first base/DH bat. However, the team chose to release disgruntled outfielder Nick Castellanos. Philadelphia will eat the $20 million remaining on Castellanos’ contract just to get him out the door. The outfielder has now signed with the San Diego Padres.
Castellanos’ departure opens up a glimpse of opportunity for the Phillies to add a right-handed bench bat, if Dombrowski were to change his tune. Hoskins has destroyed lefties in his career, posting a .882 OPS across 1,012 plate appearances. He certainly wouldn’t play ahead of Harper or Schwarber, but he could factor in against tough lefties.
If the Phillies were open to playing Schwarber in the outfield, Hoskins would be an even easier fit. Brandon Marsh is trending toward being the left fielder against righties, with rookie Justin Crawford assuming the everyday center fielder role. Marsh has a miserable .581 OPS in his career against same-handed pitching, so he’ll surely sit against lefties. Hoskins could slot in at DH if the club were willing to put Schwarber in the outfield.
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