Beloved Phillies slugger finds new home with Milwaukee Brewers
Rhys Hoskins' time in Philadelphia is officially over. The second longest-tenured player on the 2023 Phillies has signed a two-year deal with the Milwaukee Brewers worth $34 million, per ESPN's Jeff Passan. The contract includes an opt-out after the 2024 season.
BREAKING: First baseman Rhys Hoskins and the Milwaukee Brewers are finalizing a two-year, $34 million contract with an opt-out after the first season, sources tell ESPN.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 24, 2024
It became evident that the Phillies wouldn't make an effort to re-sign their former first baseman when it was announced that Bryce Harper would take over the position full-time moving forward. The Phillies will miss Hoskins' typical 30-plus home run seasons, and his offensive production will be difficult to replace. He could be inconsistent, but the club knew what they would get with him.
The Brewers will get a productive right-handed hitting power bat in their new signing. He will be a key component of their lineup. They are a team currently undergoing some changes. The club has been shedding payroll, and it's likely that Hoskins — along with Christian Yelich and William Contreras — will be a central part of their new offense.
Over his six seasons in Philadelphia, the former fifth-round draft pick batted .242, hit 148 home runs, drove in 405 runs, and posted an .846 OPS in 667 games. He was a productive player during his time in red pinstripes. While his postseason numbers are worse than his regular season stats, his performance in the 2022 NLDS and NLCS will be remembered in Phillies history.
Hoskins will be missed in Philadelphia by his teammates and fans alike. While he was the target of frustration at times due to his poor defense and his prolonged offensive slumps, he was a key member of the Phillies' restructuring years.
The untimely ACL injury that caused him to miss his entire final season in a Phillies uniform deprived fans of seeing the face of the rebuild. Fortunately, he was part of the 2022 team that made the improbable run to the World Series. His new club is getting a good player and a great clubhouse leader.
For fans to get a glimpse at Hoskins in his new uniform and to give him the proper reception at Citizens Bank Park, the Brewers first come to Philadelphia for a three-game series June 3-5.
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