- Rhys Hoskins made his MLB debut with the Phillies on Aug. 10, 2017.
- He signed a one-year, $12 million deal on Jan. 13, 2023.
- Without an extension, Hoskins will become a free agent at the end of 2023.
When a player is due to enter free agency at the end of the season, the pressure is on them to perform well to drive up their value on the market. If said player is out for the entire season due to injury, that obviously complicates things.
Such is the situation of Rhys Hoskins, who tore his ACL during a spring training game and will miss the entire 2023 season — his final season under club control with the Philadelphia Phillies before entering free agency.Â
Oh man, Rhys Hoskins goes down on a routine grounder. Doesn’t look good. pic.twitter.com/AfaTOhl6R2
— Chris Brown (@ChrisBrown0914) March 23, 2023
Hoskins was drafted by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB draft and made his MLB debut on Aug. 10, 2017, making the 30-year-old the longest-tenured position player on Philadelphia’s roster.Â
On Jan. 13, 2023, he signed a one-year, $12 million contract, avoiding arbitration, and without an extension, he will become a free agent at the end of this season.
After reaching the World Series in 2022, the Phillies are going into this season hoping they can repeat their success. Losing Hoskins is a major hit to that plan, and the fact that 2023 is his last season under club control makes his future with the team quite murky, even if he has firmly established himself as a fan and club favorite in Philadelphia.
During the 2022 regular season, Hoskins slashed .246/.332/.462 with 30 home runs, 33 doubles, and 79 RBIs. He recorded six homers and 12 RBIs in 69 at-bats during the Phillies’ postseason run, though his .159 playoff batting average left a bit to be desired.
Still, Hoskins’ regular-season stats have remained extremely consistent through his six seasons in Philadelphia, earning him a reputation as a reliable and high-performing presence at the plate.
So, where could Hoskins play in 2024?
Rhys Hoskins: Potential Landing Spots
Philadelphia Phillies
The most likely scenario is the Phillies will offer Hoskins an extension next offseason. The 2023 season is obviously a bust for him due to his ACL injury, but he’s previously proven himself to be a very solid contributor on a high-performing lineup, and that’s got to count for something.
It will be interesting to see how successful the Phillies are at filling the Hoskins-shaped hole in their roster this season because there’s no obvious full-time replacement.
Darick Hall and Edmund Sosa will likely split first baseman duties for the time being, and I can see the team making a move at the trade deadline to secure a reliable hitter. The caliber of player they’re able to acquire will likely have some bearing on Hoskins’ chances of an extension after 2023, but I expect the Phillies to want to lock him down for the future.
Maybe an obvious hole in the lineup this season will prove just how essential the fan-favorite has been.
RHYS. HOSKINS. IS. HIM.
📺: FS1 and the FOX Sports App pic.twitter.com/jDDhdPciyM
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 23, 2022
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox don’t currently have a star at first base, as was abundantly clear to anyone watching their defense in 2022. Things are looking a lot more positive with the news that rookie Triston Casas has made the Opening Day roster, but he has a lot to prove before I’m prepared to call that a long-term solution.
All of this means that the Red Sox may be in the market for a first baseman next winter, and if Hoskins is available, a move to Boston could be in the cards.
San Francisco Giants
After 12 years with the Giants, Brandon Belt moved on to the Toronto Blue Jays after the 2022 season, leaving a big hole at first base.Â
Wilmer Flores, LaMonte Wade Jr., J.D. Davis, and (somewhat surprisingly) Joc Pederson are expected to share the position in 2023, but even with this misfit gang of fill-ins, the Giants are likely to be in the market for a permanent solution next offseason.
Considering they missed out on top free agents Carlos Correa and Aaron Judge this past offseason, I expect the Giants to be very aggressive next winter to bolster their roster. San Francisco is determined to climb back to the top of the standings, and perhaps signing Hoskins is the next step.
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