PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Rhys Hoskins has had a lot of emotional at-bats at Citizens Bank Park during his time with the Philadelphia Phillies.
There’s the infamous bat-spike home run in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves in the first home playoff baseball game at Citizens Bank Park in more than a decade, along with other bombs Hoskins hit during that postseason -run to World Series in 2022.
Hoskins will have another emotional at-bat Monday night in South Philly as he makes his return to Citizens Bank Park for the first time with the Milwaukee Brewers, which he signed with during the low season.
“I’m kind of a crier,” Hoskins said. “I’ll probably cry at some point today, but I think this tells you everything you need to know about the energy and emotion I’ve been able to get from this place over the last ten years. It will definitely be memorable.” Hopefully they don’t have to stop the match because I’m crying too much.”
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Hoskins spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Phillies sat out the entire 2023 season after tearing his ACL during spring training.
Hoskins recently dealt with a right hamstring strain that landed him on the injured list on May 14, but he was activated three days before his return to his former home.
Through 40 games with the Brewers, Hoskins has hit nine home runs, recorded 27 RBIs and scored 17 runs. He’s hitting .242/.353/.491 with an 843 OPS.
Hoskins said that as a Phillie, he has often been to Citizens Bank Park when former players return. He knows it will be loud and he hopes there will be a good reception, but said he didn’t expect anything once he was introduced as a member of the Brewers.
Hoskins said it was weird going to the visitor’s clubhouse after spending the first part of his career in the home clubhouse, but once the first pitch comes it will be a new game.
“I’m just excited, man,” Hoskins said. “Obviously it’s been a long time since I played here, but to see how this place has changed over the last few years, obviously these guys are playing really, really good baseball, so just a chance for us to see where we are competitively. But yeah, man, I’m excited to see what it’s like to play in this place in this kind of atmosphere But I think more than anything, I’m just excited to see the people that I’ve built relationships with over the last five or six years.”
Beyond the Phillies players and workers Hoskins built relationships with, he said he already passed some of the places he frequented while playing in Philly. He said he had a delicious meal at the Palizzi Social Club in South Philly, stopped by his old coffee shop and heard from some fans who wished him well.
“Just like, ‘Hey, good luck tomorrow, but not too much luck,’” Hoskins told him. “Of course, right? They need to see their team win, so it kind of took me right back.”
Even though he loved his time in Philly and has no ill will toward the Phillies, Hoskins said he is moving on with that chapter of his career and that will continue Monday night when he faces his former teammate Zack Wheeler.
“I hope it stinks tonight,” Hoskins said.
