Ten things for Phillies fans to look forward to in 2018

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 26: Rhys Hoskins #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a two run home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on August 26, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

First full season of Rhys Hoskins

Arguably the best part of the 2017 season was watching Rhys Hoskins crush baseballs once he reached the major-leagues. He hit 18 home runs in his first 34 games, breaking records each time as the fastest player to reach X amount of home runs.

Despite being on the team for less than two months, Hoskins racked up the third-most wins above replacement of any of Philadelphia’s hitters. He finished the season with a .259/.396/.618 line, 48 runs batted in, 37 walks, and 46 strikeouts in 50 games. Hoskins tapered out the last two weeks of the season, but that could easily be due to playing the most games in any season of his life. He still continued to draw walks even if the home runs dried up.

Next year, we will get a full season of Hoskins in the majors. He is expected to be a centerpiece in the lineup and the everyday starter in left field. While his home run pace from August and early September almost certainly won’t carry over, but he should still be able to hit plenty if he keeps up his patient hitting approach.

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