The Phillies’ door on first baseman Rhys Hoskins remains open for the postseason.
Prior to Game 2 of the NLDS matchup against the Braves at Truist Park, manager Rob Thomson was asked about Hoskins’ status after he tore his ACL at the end of spring training, and he didn’t deny the possibility of his return for the NLCS.
It’s a “stretch,” he said for Hoskins who has been in rehab at the Phillies’ spring training complex in Florida where he has taken about 20 at-bats.
The Phillies should have hope for Hoskins and that hope has been delivered in the past with Kyle Schwarber, who had a quick turnaround after he tore his ACL in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs and was healthy to pinch-hit and be a designated hitter during the World Series.
Hoskins, who is in his sixth year in Philadelphia and enters free agency after the 2023 season, tore his ACL on March 23, and if the Phillies advance in the best-of-five series over the Braves, a return for the NLCS would be around the same timeline as Schwarber in 2016.
“This guy’s making a lot of progress,” Thomson told NBC Sports Philadelphia two weeks ago. “Now, he’s got to go through a lot more testing with the training staff and with the doctors. But he’s now hitting on the field. He’s taking 75, 80, 85 swings a day. He ran the bases the other day. He’s really making a lot of progress.”
If Hoskins, 30, returns unable to play in the field, Schwarber would go from DH to left field.
Both could also be used as a pinch-hitter.
Hoskins recorded a slash line of .246/.332/.462 last season with 30 home runs in 156 games, and added six home runs in the Phillies 17 postseason game run.
Bryce Harper is currently holding down the fort of first base for the Phillies and was key in the 3-0 Game 1 win against the Braves on Saturday with a home run and an RBI.
It was the Braves’ first time getting shut out at home since Aug. 28, 2021.