Rhys Hoskins becomes first Phillies player to accomplish Modern Era feat

Rhys Hoskins is the first Phillies player to achieve this feat since at least 1900.

Winners of nine of their last 10 games entering Sunday’s four-game series finale against the Washington Nationals, the postseason-hopeful Philadelphia Phillies seem to have found a groove. During this stretch, their offense is hitting a combined .288 with 11 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, and 55 RBI across 368 plate appearances.

Along with outfielder Nick Castellanos starting to return to his 2021-season form, another Phillies slugger who has greatly contributed to the team’s recent success is first baseman Rhys Hoskins.

Since July 27, Hoskins is slashing .351/.429/.703 with eight singles, one double, four home runs, seven RBI, five walks, and just nine strikeouts spanning 42 plate appearances. All impressive numbers, what the six-year veteran has accomplished in each of the first three games of the current series between the Phillies and Nationals is even more notable.

Facing Nationals starters Paolo Espino, Josiah Gray and Patrick Corbin, Hoskins has homered in the first inning in three consecutive games. By doing so, he became the first Phillies player in the Modern Era — since at least 1900 (player games or team games) — to do so, the Phillies announced. The entire American League was not founded until January 1901.

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The last time this feat occurred in Major League Baseball overall was by then-Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, from July 25-27, 2021. Coincidentally, Castellanos also hit first-inning home runs in three consecutive games for the Cubs from August 18-21, 2019.

The Phillies have added several power bats in recent seasons — whether it be Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, or, more recently, Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber. But only Hoskins can say he was drafted and became the player he is today by developing through the Phils’ minor-league system.

It feels good to see Hoskins continue to have success, and his latest impressive home run feat only proves his value to the team moving forward.