Phillies First-Base Prospect Rhys Hoskins Named MiLB Player of the Month
By John Town
Minor League Baseball released their June Players of the Month, featuring a hot Phillies first base prospect.
Rhys Hoskins has been solid for the AA Reading throughout the Fightin’ Phils first 81 games of the season.
Upon being selected in the 5th round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Draft by the Phillies, Hoskins had a high bar to reach in order to be taken seriously as a prospect who was a right-handed first baseman coming out of college.
Players with those types of profiles have to hit their way up the minor league ladder if they ever want to see the major leagues.
Thankfully, Hoskins has done nothing but hit after a rough start during that summer after he was drafted while playing at short-season Williamsport.
His abilities at the plate were highlighted by Minor League Baseball in their press release:
"Reading Fightin Phils (Phillies) first baseman Rhys Hoskins led the Eastern League in home runs (nine), RBI (33), total bases (87), extra-base hits (22), slugging (.784) and OPS (1.198). His 39 hits and 26 runs were good for second in the league and he posted 13 multi-hit games in June. Hoskins, 23, was selected by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Sacramento State University."
Hoskins split 2015 between Low-A Lakewood and High-A Clearwater, hitting a combined 17 home runs, while also carrying a 168 wRC+ through the season.
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His strong season was rewarded when Baseball America named Hoskins to its Midseason South Atlantic League all-star team, and his being named to the MiLB.com organization all-star team.
The California State University-Sacramento product had a solid campaign last winter in the Australian League, where he put up a .323/.398/.561 hitting line while driving in 38 runs.
Hoskins has looked impressive since joining the AA Reading squad. After being named the Phillies No. 19 overall prospect by both Fangraphs and MLB.com prior to this season, he has posted a .914 OPS, which ranks second only to teammate Dylan Cozens in the Eastern League.
Additionally, Hoskins has shown major power with 24 home runs, which ranks first across all of AA ball. The right-hander showed off that power during the Phillies Futures Game when he sent a David Hernandez pitch deep, and into the right field seats.
As a prospect, Hoskins has solid tools across the boards, including good bat speed with plus power. The power has clearly showed up in games, and he could contribute 20+ home runs one day at the major league level.
He should be a capable defender at first base, although the team could try him out a corner outfield spot, as his speed isn’t a liability.
In either spot, his bat is going to have to continue to carry the day, as he will be battling a number of strong position player prospects now emerging from within the Phillies minor league organization.