Rhys Hoskins, Brewers agree to deal
Photo Credit: Rich Schultz, Getty Images
Former Philadelphia Phillies first basemen Rhys Hoskins and the Milwaukee Brewers agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal, finalized on Tuesday.
The Milwaukee Brewers currently sit in an odd position. This offseason has certainly given fans mixed emotions on what to expect for the future of their club. The departure of beloved manager Craig Counsell, along with key veterans like Carlos Santana, Rowdy Tellez, and notably, Brandon Woodruff, signaled a challenging phase for the Brewers, potentially marking the beginning of a difficult era for the team. However, with a record-breaking eight-year, $82 million contract extension to 19-year-old Jackson Chourio and some other minor signings and trades, Brewers fans have been given some hope for the near future. This optimism is further bolstered by the addition of Rhys Hoskins, arguably the offseason's most sought-after free-agent first baseman.
Hoskins was drafted in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies and was eventually called up to the big league club in 2017. He would be the primary first baseman for the next five seasons in Philly while playing in the outfield from time to time. Phillies fans will always cherish the memory of Rhys Hoskins' iconic bat spike following his three-run homer against Spencer Strider in the 2022 NLDS Game 3, as well as his two-run shot in NLCS Game 5 that propelled them to the World Series. Unfortunately, these are some of Phillies fans’ final memories of Hoskins in the red and white as he tore his ACL during 2023 spring training and was unable to play the entire season. With the emergence of Bryce Harper at first base and Kyle Schwarber plugging up the DH spot, the Phillies had no place for Hoskins as his contract expired. As many teams including the Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants and more were rumored to be interested in grabbing the first basemen, the Milwaukee Brewers came out on top, adding him for two years.
Photo Credit: Ray Stubblebine, UPI
The Brewers aim to enhance their lineup with Hoskins, addressing their past struggles with inconsistent offense. Hoskins brings a specialized skill: he excels against left-handed pitchers, an area where the Brewers have been recently underperforming. Hoskins has a career .921 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) against left-handed pitching while the Brewers have a .703 OPS in the same category over the past three seasons. While he is known more for his offense, Hoskins is a very solid defensive first-baseman and will easily take over for Jake Bauers who was positioned to be the guy. By adding Hoskins, the Brewers are showing they will not roll over into a rebuild, but rather attempt to compete for the playoffs in a weaker NL Central. With names like Yelich, Burnes, Williams and now, Hoskins, the Brewers have a very good chance of doing just that. Although it felt bleak for a moment, there is a lot to look forward to in both the near and far future for Brewers fans.
