Yet another prominent player is now off the free-agent market. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Rhys Hoskins agreed to a two-year, $34 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, which includes an opt-out after this season. 2023 was an unfortunate year for the 30-year-old. On March 23rd, in a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers, Hoskins suffered a torn ACL. He would undergo surgery and miss the entire 2023 season. Then, the Phillies announced that Bryce Harper will play first base full-time in 2024. This left Hoskins no other choice but to sign elsewhere. This is a surprisingly decent payday for Hoskins given the severity of his injury. However, he might have gotten more years on a deal if he hadn’t been hurt. Nonetheless, Hoskins will be determined to show off his talents this upcoming 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
Rhys Hoskins Signs with the Brewers
Hoskins’ Top-Notch 2022 Season
Hoskins played in 156 games during the 2022 season. In 589 at-bats, the first baseman had 145 hits, 30 home runs, and 79 runs batted in with a .246 batting average. He led the Phillies in at-bats and doubles with 33. Hoskins’ best game during the regular season was on August 16th in an 11-4 win against the Cincinnati Reds. He had three hits, two of those being home runs, while batting in five runs. During Game Four of the NLCS against the San Diego Padres, Rhys also bombed two home runs, with four runs batted in. Philadelphia went on to win the game 10-6. The tides of success would change during the 2022 World Series for Hoskins. He batted .120 during that six-game series, only recording three hits.
Rhys Must Look to the Future, Not the Past
Rhys Hoskins must let the injury and the potentially longer contract be a thing of the past. If he’s determined to win and fits in with his new ball club, he should average his usual 30 home runs and 70-plus runs batted in. With the Brewers, if they become a postseason threat, or even make the World Series, Hoskins could erase his poor 2022 World Series from people’s memories. Perhaps he might reestablish his career at 31 years of age as a potential All-Star first baseman.
Photo Credit: “Rhys Hoskins” by IDSportsPhoto is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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