Rhys Hoskins made his long-awaited return to the Milwaukee Brewers’ lineup on September 10th. After missing over two months with a left thumb sprain, he delivered an immediate impact as the Crew eyes a postseason run. His return, however, puts the Brew Crew in a bit of a difficult spot. The Crew’s first base situation is both a boost in depth and a challenging conundrum as the club juggles three productive options at the position.
Rhys Hoskins’ Return and Immediate Contributions
Hoskins, who had been sidelined since July 5, was hot out of the gate. He notched a pinch-hit RBI single in his first game back against the Texas Rangers to support the Brewers’ offensive output. Prior to his injury, he was posting a .242/.340/.428 line with 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 82 games. His rehab assignment revealed no lingering effects either. Hoskins’ readiness to embrace whatever role is needed reflects the veteran leadership Milwaukee coveted when signing him last offseason.
Vaughn, Bauers, and the New Dynamic
The challenge for manager Pat Murphy is carving up at-bats among Hoskins and two players who excelled in his absence. Andrew Vaughn, acquired midseason, has been outstanding. His batting line is .308/.370/.503 with nine home runs in 51 games since July. This means Vaughn, a quick fan favorite too, is staking a major claim to first base. Meanwhile, left-handed hitter Jake Bauers is scorching hot. Bauers is hitting .444 over his last seven games while providing a defensive edge and positional flexibility as a corner outfielder. Murphy has stated that Vaughn “demands the bulk of at-bats,” so Hoskins and Bauers will be strategically rotated. This means Milwaukee now boasts three offensively capable first basemen in Vaughn, Hoskins, and Bauers. As the playoff race intensifies, there is only one place to put them, since the DH spot is primarily occupied by Christian Yelich as he manages his own back issues.
Pat Murphy said Rhys Hoskins was on board with the team’s decision to use him in a bench role as he returns from the IL.
“He’s the right guy. He understands winning environments.” pic.twitter.com/fg13gvHCV7
— Curt Hogg (@CyrtHogg) September 9, 2025
Strategic Adjustments Down the Stretch
With no expanded September roster, the Brewers’ bench is offense-heavy but thin on infield coverage. The team optioned backup infielder Anthony Seigler to Triple-A to reinstate Hoskins, so the flexibility Bauers provides will be crucial. Given each player’s handedness and streaks, Murphy will look to thread the needle, mixing and matching based on pitching matchups and player health. This would be Murph’s best look to optimize run production while keeping the clubhouse chemistry strong.
Leadership, Experience, and October Ambitions
Beyond the numbers, Hoskins’ presence is valued for his leadership and playoff experience. The crowded first base situation may be a luxury problem. His determination and versatility to accept a rotating role mark him as a model teammate on a team chasing its first-ever World Series crown. The Brewers’ path forward will rely on the trio’s ability to produce whenever called upon. Therefore, the depth at first base might well be the edge Milwaukee needs for October glory.
Main Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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