Phillies Post-2016 Top 30 Prospect Rankings: 11-15
By John Town
No. 11: First Baseman Rhys Hoskins
Rhys Hoskins was the second part of Reading’s “Smash Bros.” this year along with outfielder and No. 18 prospect Dylan Cozens. The two combined for 78 home runs this season, with Hoskins contributing 38. He and Cozens shared the Paul Owens Award as the top hitting prospects in the Phillies system.
Despite Cozens hitting more home runs than Hoskins, I am more confident in Hoskins’s future, which is why he ranks higher on the list. While Hoskins did strike out 21.1% of the time, he also walked in 12.1% of his plate appearances. Plate discipline is one of Hoskins’s trademarks, and he showed it this year.
In addition, Hoskins can hit against right-handed pitchers as well as left-handed pitchers. This season, Hoskins had a 1.024 OPS against lefties, and it was still well above-average against righties at .920. Considering there is little value in right-handed hitting platoon first baseman, it’s a definite plus Hoskins can hit against both types of pitchers.
While Hoskins benefited from Reading’s hitter-friendly stadium – everyone does – he was still an above-average hitter on the road. In 65 road games, Hoskins hit 13 home runs with a .270/.357/.496 line. His hitting didn’t evaporate on the road, which shows that his overall numbers aren’t a fluke.
Hoskins batted above .300 in 2015 and had a .281 average this year, but Dan Farnsworth of Fangraphs believes his average will go down as he faces better pitching. Farnsworth said Hoskins “has a one-piece, one-speed swing” that “puts pressure on his pitch recognition and contact skills to square enough pitches up, given his lack of physical adaptability.” So far it has worked, but it will have to improve with the pitchers he faces.
The Phillies have no need to rush Hoskins to the majors with Tommy Joseph holding down first base. If Joseph turns out to be the real deal, Hoskins could be an interesting piece of trade bait. If the Phillies would rather keep Hoskins, some speculate the team could try to move him to left field so they can get his bat in the lineup. If he continues to hit like this, the Phillies will find one way or another to get Hoskins on the major-league roster.