Phillies' Rhys Hoskins suffers brutal non-contact leg injury, carted off field

Heading for free agency following the conclusion of the 2023 MLB season, essential Phillie Rhys Hoskins just suffered a fate no man deserves in an otherwise humdrum spring training contest against the Detroit Tigers.

While backing up to field a chopper up the first baseline, Hoskins somehow got caught as he reached the outfield, with one knee clearly hindering his progress as he crumpled to the ground.

EMTs quickly reached the field to remove Hoskins from the premises for further testing, as his teammates kneeled around the first baseman in his moment of pain.

It was the textbook definition of a non-contact injury, and while an official diagnosis has yet to come from the medical staff, optimism isn't the Phillies' word of the day.

Phillies 1B Rhys Hoskins carted off field with non-contact injury

A day that began with so much optimism in the wake of the returns/hero's welcomes for returning Team USA stars Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner has now turned sour.

It's now quite possible that Hoskins' Phillies career ends crumpled in a heap in Clearwater, the antithesis of what he deserved.

Last fall, Hoskins -- a Phillies lifer who survived a good deal of the playoff drought and down years -- was integral in Philadelphia's World Series run, which ended two wins away from glory. He hammered 30 home runs in the regular season for the second time in his career, then followed it up with six homers total in the postseason (one in the NLDS, a remarkable four in the NLCS, and another in the World Series).

If he's laid up for the year, Hoskins will be the epitome of a clubhouse leader, and will be the centerpiece of a cause for the Phillies to rally around. Still, that wasn't supposed to be his fate. He deserved better. Updates on his status surely to come.