Rhys Hoskins — who had previously been the longest-tenured position player on the Philadelphia Phillies — reportedly agreed to a two-year/$34 million deal to join the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday evening, which will end an excellent run in red pinstripes.
Hoskins was a mainstay in the lineup from the end of 2017 when he burst on the scene as a rookie through 2022 before an ACL tear cost him the entire 2023 season. It’s an unfortunate end to a Phillies career that deserved a more fitting close.
Hoskins was far from a perfect player in Philadelphia, with cold streaks and defensive struggles at first base (and don’t forget in left field) drawing the ire of his critics. But the highs were ever so high as the patient right-hander slugger could carry the team for stretches as he carved out his place in the clubhouse, the city of Philadelphia and Phillies lore.
As Hoskins prepares for the next chapter of his career, here’s a list to commemorate his best moments as a Phillie:
5. The Debut
This one technically covers more than just one moment, but Hoskins’ emergence as a rookie was the moment back in 2017 for a Phillies team with very few bright spots. He clubbed 18 home runs in his first 34 games, a mark unmatched by any other player in major-league history.
4. The Slow Trot
In April 2019, Hoskins was displeased that Mets reliever Jacob Rhame threw at him. The next night, he got his revenge. Hoskins homered down the left-field line against Rhame and made sure he knew it, taking his time to soak it all in during a 34-second trot around the bases.
3. Owning October
Everyone remembers the “Bedlam at the Bank” as Harper homered in Game 5 of the 2022 National League Championship Series to send the Phillies to the World Series. But that couldn’t have happened without Hoskins kicking off the clincher by smashing a cement mixer from Yu Darvish to put Philadelphia on the board.
2. Answering Twice
In NLCS Game 4 last season, the Phillies found themselves in a first-inning hole, trailing by four. Hoskins made sure there was no panic, cutting the deficit in half with a two-run blast.
Then in the sixth inning, he tied it up with another two-run shot before the Phillies ran away with the pivotal matchup.
1. The Bat Spike
The defining moment of Hoskins’ career came as postseason baseball returned to Citizens Bank Park for over a decade in Game 1 of the 2022 NL Division Series. He jumped all over a middle-middle fastball from Spencer Strider to give the Philly faithful a reason to party, letting out his emotion after a three-run bomb.
Hoskins raised his arms and fired his bat into the ground to set the tone for the Phillies’ joyride pennant run, the most fitting player for that moment.
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