Rob Thomson Hints at Rhys Hoskins Return in NLCS

When Rhys Hoskins tore his ACL on March 23, the world of the Philadelphia Phillies didn't expect him to play in NLCS.

One of the only homegrown products at the top end of the roster had just helped the team to the World Series in 2022. He wasn’t perfect on the climb, but he deserved another chance to bring a title to Philadelphia in the final year of his contract.

It seemed like an unfair disaster that he wouldn’t get that chance. Did Phillies fans jump the gun?

Rob Thomson spoke about his slugger. Will Hoskins be active for the NLCS as a designated hitter option? 

Thomson had a chance to say no. He didn't say no.

The Red October crowd has provided the most incredible home-field advantage the Phillies could’ve asked for. Their 26-11 record at Citizens Bank Park gives them the best home record among MLB teams who’ve played 20 or more postseason games in their own ballpark.

One of the most famous moments in Citizens Bank Park playoff history happened with Rhys Hoskins at the plate. The bat spike in Game 3 of the NLDS was one of the most electrifying moments of the 2023 MLB postseason.

The 1st baseman made it through the rebuild. The Phillies selected him in the fifth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. He is one of the few success stories of a wonky Matt Klentak rebuild. Will he be part of a team that gets over the hump for a World Series in 2023?

Kyle Schwarber set the precedent for Rhys Hoskins in 2016. He tore his ACL in the third game of the 2016 season. He returned after 199 days. Game 1 of the NLCS will take place 206 days after Hoskins’ injury.

Schwarber went 7/17 in the 2016 World Series. He provided an emotional boost to a Chicago Cubs team that won its first title since 1908.

Schwarber is one of the leaders of the 2023 Phillies clubhouse. The two Phillies sluggers have been in the contact all season.

Do the Phillies have a legendary MLB moment like Kirk Gibson in the 1988 World Series upcoming? It’s not like the Citizens Bank Pak crowd needs another boost, but they might get one.

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The Phillies are back in the NLCS. For the second straight year, they knocked the 100+ win Braves out of the playoffs in the NLDS. Everyone called them the greatest lineup in Baseball history. Didn't seem so potent against the Phillies. They were held to just 7 runs across 4 games. With guys like Ronald Acuna and Matt Olson being quiet the entire series. And now, we can look forward to the NLCS and the Diamondbacks.

The Phillies get the next 3 days off. Which they may need after how much they partied after the win in game 4. And then on Monday, it begins. They need 4 more wins to get to the World Series, and 8 more to parade down Broad Street.

And there is good reason to be very confident in this team. As good as last year's team was, this roster is even better. To start, they have Trea Turner who is putting up crazy numbers. Bryce Harper is still the best playoff hitter ever. And now you have Nick Castellanos playing out of his mind after he struggled in the playoffs last year. And maybe more important, is how great the pitching looks.

The Braves may be choke artists, but that was still a very good lineup. They were shut down by the Phillies pitchers though. Wheeler, Nola, and Suarez all pitched gems. And apart from game 2, the Bullpen shut the door on the Braves once the starters came out. The bullpen goes deep, far deeper than it did last year. The lineup is just as deep. This team is very good.

So before the NLCS, let's get a reminder of just how good this 26-man roster is. And while we are at it, let's see how all of them have played against the Diamondbacks so far this season.

Season Stats

.252/.310/.452/.762

20 HRs, 28 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 63 RBIs, 70 Runs, 16 SBs, 35 BBs, 138 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.400/.478/1.000/1.478

8 for 20, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 6 RBIs, 8 Runs, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 2Ks

Playoff Stats

.273/.333/.636/.969

6 for 22, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 6 RBIS, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Season Stats

.293/.401/.499/.900

21 HRs, 29 2Bs, 1 3B, 72 RBIs, 84 Runs, 11 SBs, 80 BBs, 119 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.296/.441/.370/.812

8 for 27, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs, 1 SB, 7 BBs, 6 Ks

Playoff Stats

.368/.538/.842/1.380

7 for 19, 3 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs, 1 SB, 7 BBs, 5 Ks

Season Stat

.280/.329/.419/.747

15 HRs, 32 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 62 RBIs, 78 Runs, 31 SBs, 39 BBs, 100 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.393/.414/.786/1.200

11 for 28, 3 HRs, 0 2Bs, 1 3B, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Playoff Stats

.238/.292/.381/.673

5 for 21, 1 HR, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 7 RBIs, 3 Runs, 1 Sb, 2 BBs, 10 Ks

Season Stats

.266/.320/.459/.778

26 HRs, 35 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 76 RBIs, 102 Runs, 30 SBs, 45 BBs, 150 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.241/.353/.379/.732

7 for 29, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 5 Runs, 4 SBs, 5 BBs, 6 Ks

Playoff Stats

.500/.538/.917/1.455

12 for 24, 2 HRs, 4 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 3 RBIs, 5 Runs, 4 SBs, 2 BBs, 4 Ks

Season Stats

.274/.327/.437/.765

20 HRs, 31 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 97 RBIs, 74 Runs, 4 SBs, 42 BBs, 94 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.346/.346/.423/.769

9 for 26, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 8 RBIs, 4 Runs, 0 SBs, 0 BBs, 1 K

Playoff Stats

.190/.320/.286/.606

4 for 21, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs, 0 SBs, 4 BBs, 6 Ks

Season Stats

.277/.372/.458/.829

12 HRs, 25 2Bs, 6 3Bs, 60 RBIs, 58 Runs, 10 SBs, 59 BBs, 144Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.263/.300/.316/.616

5 for 19, 0 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs, 0 SB, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Playoff Stats

.357/.400/.643/1.043

5 for 14, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 2 Runs, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Season Stats

.302/.342/.430/.771

2 HRs, 9 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 23 RBIs, 24 Runs, 14 SBs, 5 BBs, 42 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

.048/.091/.048/.139

1 for 21, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 9 Ks

Season Stats

.272/.311/.476/.788

29 HRs, 37 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 106 RBIs, 79 Runs, 11 SBs, 36 BBs, 185 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.258/.314/.355/.669

8 for 31, 0 HRs, 3 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs, 1 SB, 3 BBs, 10 Ks

Playoff Stats

.391/.440/.643/1.083

9 for 23, 4 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 5 RBIs, 6 Runs, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 3 Ks

Season Stats 

.197/.343/.474/.817 

47 HRs, 19 2Bs, 1 3B, 104 RBIs, 108 Runs, 0 SBs, 126 BBs, 215 Ks 

Stats vs Diamondbacks 

.192/.364/.462/.825 

5 for 26, 2 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 5 Runs, 7 BBs, 6 Ks 

Playoff Stats 

.160/.222/.240/.462

4 for 25, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3B, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Season Stats

.251/.293/.427/.719

10 HRs, 15 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 30 RBIs, 34 Runs, 4 SBs, 8 BBs, 74 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.182/.182/.364/.545

2 for 11, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 1 Run, 1 SB, 0 BBs, 4 Ks

Playoff Stats

Has not appeared

Season Stats

.238/.319/.417/.736

2 HRs, 7 2Bs, 1 3B, 11 RBIs, 12 Runs, 2 SBs, 10 BBs, 27 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Did Not Face The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

.143/.333/.143/.476

1 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 3 Ks

Season Stats

.212/.272/.348/.620

5 HRs, 8 2Bs, 1 3B, 21 RBIs, 18 Runs, 3 SBs, 15 BBs, 55 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Did Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

.204/.274/.283/.557

1 HR, 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 12 RBIs, 15 Runs, 2 SBs, 9 BBs, 29 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.286/.375/.286/.661

2 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 4 Ks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.61 ERA, 13-6, 212 Ks, 192 IPs, 1,08 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

3.00 ERA, 1-1, 10 Ks, 12 IPs, 1.17 WHIP, 2 Starts

Playoff Stats

2.08 ERA, 1-0, 18 Ks, 13 IPs, .069 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.46 ERA, 12-9, 202 Ks, 193.2 IPs, 1.15 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

5.40 ERA, 1-0, 9 Ks, 6.2 IPS, 1.05 WHIP, 1 Start

Playoff Stats

1.42 ERA, 2-0, 12 Ks, 12.2 IPs, 0.87 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.18 ERA, 4-6, 119 Ks, 125 IPs, 1.42 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

3.75 ERA, 0-0, 12 Ks, 12 IPs, 1.00 WHIP, 2 Starts,

Playoff Stats

1.04 ERA, 1-0, 6 Ks, 8.2 IPs, 0.58 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.38 ERA, 15-6, 138 Ks, 172.2 IPs, 1.31 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced the Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.44 ERA, 3-5, 96 Ks, 99.1 IPs, 1.05 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced the Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Ks, 1 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 1 Appearance

Season Stats

4.18 ERA, 9-9, 111 Ks, 153 IPs, 1.21 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

8.1 ERA, 0-1, 3 Ks, 6.2 IPs, 1.20 WHIP, 1 Start

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.26 ERA, 23 Saves, 94 Ks, 69 IPs, 1.04 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 4 Ks, 3 IPs, 0.33 WHIP. 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 2 Saves, 1 Hold, 1 K, 3 IPs, 0.67 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

1.74 ERA, 10 Saves, 64 Ks, 41.1 IPs, 1.16 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 1 K, 1 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 1 Appearance

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Holds, 4 Ks, 4 IPs, 4 Appearances

Season Stats

4.62 ERA, 3 Saves, 65Ks, 60.1 IPs, 1.14 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 3 Ks, 2 IPS, 1.50 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

5.40 ERA, 0 Saves,  1 Hold, 1.2 IPS, 2 Ks, 2.40 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

2.41 ERA, 1 Save, 69 Ks, 52.1 IPs, 0.92 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

3.86 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Ks, 2.1 IPs, 2.14 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 2 Holds, 2.2 IPS, 4 Ks, 1.50 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

3.78 ERA, 2 Saves, 48 Ks, 50 Ks, 50 IPs, 1.40 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

27.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 1 Blown Save, 2 Ks, 1.1 IPs, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

18.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 1 Hold, 1-1, 1 K, 1 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 1 HLD, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

3.29 ERA, 2 Saves, 108 Ks, 87.2 IPs, 1.02 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

9.64 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Ks, 4.2 IPs, 1.71 WHIP, 2 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 1 Hold, 2.1 IPS, 1 K, 1.29 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 6 Ks, 3.0 IPs, 1.33 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 1 HLD, 1 K, 3 IPs, 0.67 WHIP, 3 Appearances