Phillies: Five Bold Predictions for Spring Training
By George Rider
Rhys Hoskins new stance will be effective in spring training.
When the video of Rhys Hoskins’ new batting stance came out it made most fans feel optimistic seeing his hands significantly lower than last season.
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Hoskins’ second half of 2019 was anything but successful, he hit .180 and had an OPS of .639.
Like I mentioned earlier, a tweak in mechanics could end up being exactly what a player needs.
With his hands being lower he shouldn’t be trying to pull the ball as much and will get to the baseball a lot quicker.
Since having his monster rookie campaign while playing only 50 games, Hoskins batting statistics have been moving slightly down each year.
Philadelphia Phillies
He went from slashing .259/.396/.618 with 18 home runs and a 4th place Rookie of the Year finish to .226/.364/.454 and 29 home runs in 160 games in 2019.
Going into the 2019 season expectations were high for the Harper-Hoskins power bat combination in the lineup. The first half of the season Rhys was looking good at the plate, he was slashing .263/.401/.530 with 20 home runs through 89 games, on pace to end with a solid season. But the second half it fell apart, he slashed a jaw dropping .180/.318/.361 with nine home runs in 71 games.
That type of half season isn’t what you’d expect out of him and it was just as tough to watch. Whether it was hitting coach Joe Dillon or somebody else who got him to try a new stance, it hopefully can be successful.
Spring training is the perfect trial period to work on a new stance and try to find a rhythm. If it works out well for Hoskins, that could make the Phillies lineup more consistent in 2020.