PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Maybe Rhys Hoskins was your favorite Phillie, or maybe he was someone you always wanted more of. Sometimes he was both. That’s the life of a homegrown player historically stormed burst onto the scene, but never developed into the superstar some envisioned.
Hoskins was the first beacon of light when he was called up in 2017 during the dark years. He broke Boston Braves centerfielder Wally Berger’s record with the fastest player in MLB history to reach 17 career home runs. He was part of losing teams.
Through it all, Hoskins competed, got on base and hit. He and his wife Jayme immersed themselves in the Philadelphia community.
Then came 2022 and Hoskins found himself in the middle of starting something special in Philadelphia. He experienced postseason baseball at Citizens Bank Park and had his moment. The Phils fell two wins short of winning the World Series.
As quickly as Hoskins burst onto the scene, his time in Philly ended just as abruptly. Hoskins tore his ACL during a spring training game in March 2023 and missed the entire season. While recovering, Harper was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Harper approached the Phillies about learning first base to fill the void left by Hoskins’ injury. Harper made his debut at first base in July and then in November, Philadelphia made him its own full-time first baseman. Hoskins left with free will, signing with the Brewers.
Hoskins returns to Philadelphia as an opponent for the first time tonight when the Phillies host the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game series. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Here are three memorable moments from Hoskins’ tenure in Philadelphia.
1. The bat-ear
It was his second at-bat in his first-ever playoff game at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies led 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning with their NL Division Series with the Atlanta Braves tied at 1-1. Braves flamethrower Spencer Strider was pitching.
Hoskins jumped on the first pitch he saw, a fastball right up the middle, sent the ball into the sea of red in left field and then let it all out.
The years of loss. The frustrations. The 1-for-18 with six strikeouts comes in Game 3.
He crushed the ball to left field, turned to the dugout, threw his hands in the air and then jabbed with his bat.
Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Hoskins’ three-run homer put the Phillies up 4-0 and they never looked back. They dispatched the Braves in four games and defeated the San Diego Padres in the NL Championship Series. Then they lost to the Houston Astros in six games in the World Series.
But Hoskins had his postseason moment, a highlight that is and will be repeated for as long as the video exists.
2. The 34-second home run trot
On April 24, 2019, Rhys Hoskins got his revenge. A day after Mets pitcher Jacob Rhame sailed two pitches over his head at Citi Field, Hoskins dueled Rhame again. It was the top of the ninth inning with Bryce Harper on first base and the Phillies up 4-0.
Hoskins took a one-one pitch and placed it over the left field wall for a two-run homer. Then he flipped his bat.
But the bat flip wasn’t the story.
It was his home run trot of 34.23 seconds, the slowest in the MLB at the time since 2015.
Frank Franklin II/AP
3. Playoff beers on the Jayme Hoskins
This is a story about Rhys Hoskins returning to Philadelphia for the first time in enemy colors. There is a laundry list of memories from his nine years in the Phillies organization. But Jaymee Hoskins has also had an impact on the community here. According to The Athletic, Rhys and Jayme Hoskins raised more than $1 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during their time in Philadelphia.
Let’s go back to the magical postseason run of 2022. While Rhys Hoskins stood on the field at the Bench, Jayme Hoskins sat in the stands and watched her husband and the Phillies storm through the playoffs.
And she also treated Phillies fans beer on her tab. She tweeted “beer coming soon” and then bought beer for her fans.
“It’s one of the more generous things you could ever do,” said Joseph Connolly of South Philadelphia.
