Rhys Hoskins Signs 2-Year Deal With Brewers

Former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins is signing with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Jeff Passan of ESPN broke the news that Hoskins is signing a two-year contract worth $34 million with an opt-out after the first season. Hoskins was one of the top remaining free agents and now officially turns his career to a new chapter after spending the last seven MLB seasons as a Phillie.

Rhys Hoskins’ Tenure

Hoskins’ tenure with the Phillies was successful and memorable in countless ways. In addition to being a beloved member of the community with his wife, Jayme, Rhys Lightning was one of Philly’s very best players for years.

His development into a high-level hitter helped set the stage for a series of roster additions that turned the team into a World Series contender. After joining the big-league club six seasons into its decade-long playoff drought, he became a major contributor to the end of the drought and the start of a window of championship contention.

In the 2022 postseason, Hoskins tallied 12 RBI and 11 hits in 17 games. The slugger provided one of the most iconic moments in Philadelphia sports history by spiking his bat after taking Spencer Strider deep in his first postseason home run.

Hoskins, who was drafted 142nd overall by the Phillies in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft, spent his last season with the team on the IL after tearing his left ACL in Spring Training. In his six healthy seasons in the red pinstripes, he posted a .846 OPS, 588 hits, 405 RBI and 148 home runs.

After starting last season with Rowdy Tellez at first and then acquiring former Phillie Carlos Santana mid-season, the Brewers added a surefire veteran with playoff experience. The reigning NL Central champions have spent years trying to improve their offense to complement their stellar pitching infrastructure. Hoskins bolsters a lineup headlined by William Contreras and Christian Yelich.

It was expected that Hoskins’ tenure with the Phillies was up when Bryce Harper was named the everyday starting first baseman after making the switch to the position last season. Now, it’s official: Hoskins is no longer a Phillie. The fan favorite will return to Citizens Bank Park for a three-game series starting on Monday, June 3.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum