Homecoming Showdown: Brewers vs. Phillies as Rhys Hoskins Returns to Citizens Bank Park

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 One thing we learned about Rhys Hoskins during his seven years in Philadelphia is that he is genuinely human. From his emphatic bat spike in Game 3 of the 2022 NLDS to his open conversations in the clubhouse and his charity work with the SPCA and Muscular Dystrophy Association, the first baseman always approached life and his career with more emotion than his stoic exterior suggested.
 

Despite a bittersweet end with the Phillies, Hoskins is heading back to a place where he established himself as one of the best homegrown hitters in a decade. His charity work and community presence left a lasting impact. Hoskins' 148 career home runs rank 16th on the Phillies' all-time list, just two behind Mike Lieberthal and Scott Rosen and 14 more than Darren Daulton. His .846 career OPS ranks 28th, one behind Chase Utley. "I already have goosebumps," Hoskins said, reflecting on his return.

Here's a quick rundown of the recent events:

  • Quick Recovery: Hoskins strained his hamstring in a game against the Pirates but was back in action just two weeks later. He attributed his quick recovery to the injury being milder than initially feared, not to rushing back for his Philadelphia return.

  • Brewers Debut: After signing a two-year, $34 million contract with the Brewers, Hoskins has been a veteran spark plug for the young team, boasting an .813 OPS with nine home runs and 27 RBIs in 38 games before his injury. The Brewers, leading the NL Central, are thrilled to have him back.

  • Milwaukee Manager's Praise: "One of our pillars," said Brewers manager Pat Murphy. "It’s huge, just because of who he is. It’s not just the experience and the ability; it’s just who he is. I’m happy for him. He was miserable not contributing."

If Hoskins plays against the Phillies on Monday, it will be his first game at Citizens Bank Park since Game 5 of the 2022 World Series. His tenure with the Phillies came to an unfortunate end with a torn ACL in spring training sidelining him for all of 2023. He had hoped for a postseason return, but the Phillies' Game 7 NLCS loss to the Diamondbacks dashed those hopes. Shortly after, President Dave Dombrowski informed Hoskins they were not planning to keep him, opting to stick with Bryce Harper at first base.

As June arrives, Hoskins is set to make his much-anticipated return to Citizens Bank Park. On a Friday evening at American Family Field, he finished off a round of batting practice, ready to go. Assuming he stays healthy through the weekend, he will be in a Brewers uniform on Monday as the Phillies host Milwaukee, setting the stage for a clash between two of the hottest teams in the National League. "Of course I had it circled," said Hoskins about the upcoming game. "Why would you not? It wasn’t the first thing I thought of when [the injury] happened... But yeah, I thought, ‘Oh, (shoot), we’re coming up on it. We’re almost already in June.’"

Plenty more excitement awaits as Hoskins steps back onto the field where he once shined.

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