Could Rhys Hoskins lead the Phillies in home runs this season?
By John Town
It seems crazy, but it’s well within the realm of possibility that Rhys Hoskins could end the season leading the Phillies in home runs.
There’s only so much we can say about Rhys Hoskins. Since the Phillies promoted him a month ago, he has taken the baseball world by storm and made it all his own. No one seems to be able to stop him.
Thursday night against the Marlins, Hoskins launched his 18th home run since being called up Aug. 10. He continues to shatter records for being the quickest player to x home runs to start his career. To put it simply, we are watching history with Hoskins.
It’s not like this power is coming out of nowhere either. Combined with his minor-league total this season, Hoskins is now up to 47 cummulative home runs this year. Only Giancarlo Stanton has more. Hoskins also leads all professional hitters this season with 130 runs batted in.
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What’s been so impressive about Hoskins is the fact he is doing all this while still working counts and practicing strong plate discipline. He has walked just as much as he has struck out and his 10 home runs with two strikes lead MLB hitters. When Hoskins is up against the wall, that is when he hits for the most power.
With the torrid pace Hoskins is on, it should be asked, can Hoskins lead this team in home runs by the end of the season?
When Hoskins hit 11 home runs through his first 18 games, people asked the same question. But then his home run pace tapered off and the question subsided. However, Hoskins now has six home runs in his last six games, and once again the idea of him leading the team is back in the forefront.
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As of now, Hoskins’ 18 home runs put him third on the team behind Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph. Joseph has 21 in 132 games and Franco has 20 in 140. Hoskins has been hitting them at a much quicker pace than either Joseph or Franco, and if this pace continues he will absolutely surpass them.
The Phillies have just 16 games left this season for Hoskins to surpass Joseph and Franco. If Hoskins continues to hit the way he has, he should easily clear 21 home runs. Franco may hit one or two more down the stretch, but his playing time is starting to be cut back as J.P. Crawford gets worked into the infield.
Joseph’s playing time is also severely limited due to Hoskins, so the chances of him tacking onto his total aren’t super high.
If Hoskins is able to finish the season with the team lead in home runs, he would be just the third player in the live ball era to lead his team in home runs despite hitting none before August. He would also have the most home runs of any player to accomplish such a feat.
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Finishing the season with the team lead in home runs would be the icing on the cake of what has been a historic debut for Hoskins. Obviously this home run pace can’t continue forever, but we have seen that he has the potential to go on ridiculous hot streaks if nothing else.