It feels like a lifetime ago, but on this day, just four years ago, Philadelphia Phillies fans experienced one of the greatest moments in the history of the franchise. Beloved first baseman Rhys Hoskins delivered a crushing blow against the hated Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS.
The 2022 season had plenty of ups and downs. A tragic 22-29 start led to manager Joe Girardi getting the axe, while has-beens like Jeurys Familia, Corey Knebel, and Johan Camargo littered the roster. Four years ago, it was a long shot to sneak into a Wild Card spot after 10 years of abject misery.
But the 2022 club rallied, and a core of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, and, of course, Hoskins led the team to an 87-75 record, enough to sneak into the field as the third Wild Card team in the National League. They dispatched the St. Louis Cardinals in the best-of-three Wild Card Series before facing the 101-win Braves in the NLDS.
The first two games in Atlanta were tense affairs; the Phillies barely held on for a 7-6 victory in Game 1, while a crucial Hoskins error opened the door for a 3-0 Braves win in Game 2. Things shifted back to Philly for Games 3 and 4, with the series knotted at one win apiece.
The contest remained scoreless through the top half of the third inning until Bryson Stott came to the plate with a man on first. Chants from the packed Citizens Bank Park crowd echoed around the ballpark, directed at Braves starter Spencer Strider.
"Strider, Strider, Strider STRIDER!"
Stott’s double into right-field corner got the Phils on the board. An intentional walk to Kyle Schwarber put another runner on, and Hoskins stepped to the plate.
The 29-year-old had put together a solid 2022 campaign, hitting 30 homers en route to a .794 OPS in 156 games. The veteran first baseman had a perfect chance to atone for his defensive miscue not 48 hours earlier.
Rhys Hoskins' bat slam was one of the most memorable moments in a legendary Phillies playoff run
And then it happened. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Braves ace Spencer Strider grooved a 94-mile-per-hour heater right down the middle, and Hoskins made him pay. The slugger turned on the pitch and launched it deep into the left-field seats, throwing his arms into the air before spiking his bat to the ground as the crowd erupted around him.
A weight had been lifted not just from Hoskins, but from Philadelphia. That blast was more than just another three runs on the board. It signaled to the fanbase that these pesky Phillies weren’t content to fall into a playoff berth before fading into obscurity. No, these Phillies would make a statement in October.
The team went on to win that third game of the NLDS convincingly, 9-1. They would prevail in another lopsided win the next evening to knock off their rivals and secure a spot in the National League Championship Series. A five-game bludgeoning of the San Diego Padres gave the Fightin’ Phils their first pennant since 2009.
The Phillies’ relationship with Rhys Hoskins came to an end following the 2023 season, as the seven-year veteran reached free agency for the first time. He spent the next two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (homering in his return to the Bank) and 2026 with the Cleveland Guardians.
Phillies fans haven’t forgotten what Rhys Hoskins meant to their beloved franchise. He wasn’t just an excellent offensive contributor; he served as a bridge between a ten-year playoff drought and one of the most prosperous eras in team history. His historic debut in 2017 gave fans something to watch in the midst of one of the darkest periods in franchise history.
Rhys Hoskins will always be remembered as a homegrown Phillies star who showed up for his team when it mattered most. No single moment better reflects that than his bat slam for the ages back in 2022.
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