Phillies top four 2019 MLB All-Star Game candidates
By John Town
No. 1: Rhys Hoskins
Rhys Hoskins is the Phillies best All-Star Game candidate by a wide margin. His numbers would make him a down-ballot MVP candidate if the season ended today.
In 37 games this year, Hoskins has a .285/.410/.606 line with a 164 OPS+, 1.6 offensive wins above replacement, 11 home runs, 34 runs batted in, and 25 runs scored. At this rate, he would finish the season with 48 home runs and 148 runs batted in, the most since Ryan Howard‘s 2008 and 2006 seasons, respectively.
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Hoskins is also over the leaderboard this season, ranking among the top ten players in numerous offensive categories. Among NL hitters, Hoskins ranks third in runs batted in, fourth in OPS, fifth in walks, sixth in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and home runs, and ninth in offensive WAR and total bases.
Cody Bellinger dominates first baseman leaderboards, but he has played most of his games in right field this year. Excluding him, among qualified NL first basemen, Hoskins ranks first in wRC+, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and runs batted in, and second in Fangraphs wins above replacement and home runs to Pete Alonso.
It will likely come down to Hoskins and Alonso for who will start at first base if things stay this way.
Barring a complete 180 by Hoskins between now and July, Hoskins is a lock for the All-Star Game. His numbers are good enough to make him a starter so long as Bellinger, and his unreal numbers stay in the outfield.
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Hoskins is becoming more recognized around the league after appearing in the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Tour to Japan last year, and an All-Star Game appearance would complete his ascent into the limelight.