Rhys Hoskins Does Not Make NLCS Roster, World Series Still in Play
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 14: Rhys Hoskins #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates by spiking his bat after hitting a three-run home run against Spencer Strider #65 of the Atlanta Braves during the third inning in game three of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 14, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Over the weekend, there was some significant hype Rhys Hoskins could be a part of the 26-man Roster for the NLCS. Rob Thomson put out a little tease in a press conference before the series. And it was known he had been working on coming back during the prior two series and had even been taking live swings. But at least for the NLCS, it was not to be. The Phillies official 26-man roster is out, and Rhys Hoskins was not part of it.
Rhys Hoskins has missed the entire season to this point after tearing his ACL in spring training. And for much of the season, they clearly missed his power bat. In the first 3 months, Kyle Schwarber was really their only source of power. Bryce Harper was recovering from Tommy John surgery. Trea Turner was having the worst to a season in his career. And Nick Castellanos was the only other guy with any significant power. Thankfully that changed, with Harper, Turner, Castellanos, Realmuto, and even Bohm all picking up the power numbers in the second half. But having another power bat from the right side could have helped them a ton throughout the year.
The World Series, if the Phillies make it there, is still on the table. A few seasons ago, when Schwarber was with the Cubs, he came back for the World Series with the same injury, in the same time span. So it is certainly plausible Hoskins could take at-bats for the Phillies at some point as well if they make it to the next round.
Where Rhys Hoskins would fit if he were healthy is not clear. He won’t be able to play the field, so DH would be the only option. It would push Schwarber back into left, and likely create a platoon between Marsh and Rojas in Center. It’s possible they would only use him as a pinch hitter, and maybe DH him vs Lefites. Just his presence in the Club House though, and the ability to use him as a pinch hitter, would be a boost for the Phillies.
The Phillies 26-Man Roster For the NLCS Vs The Diamondbacks
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.
Here is what their 26-man roster in the NLCS vs the Diamondbacks will look like:
Andrew Salciunas, “The Choonis,” has done it all at the station - screening calls, working events as a member of the street team, producing 7 days a week, doing updates, and now hosting his own show. Now with a wife and kid, his life experiences are far different than when he first started, but this “regular guy” knows how to relate to anyone. He writes about the Flyers, Phillies, Sixers, and Eagles.