The Phillies were already set to defend their NL pennant without Bryce Harper for a portion of the season. Now, their lineup may have lost another power bat.
First baseman Rhys Hoskins was carted off the field after going down with a non-contact injury during Wednesday's spring training game against the Tigers, putting a cloud over a team with championship hopes just a week before Opening Day.
Hoskins is one of baseball's streakiest hitters, but he is as productive as any power hitter in the National League when he's in a groove. The 30-year-old hit .246 with 30 home runs, 79 RBI, and a .794 OPS last season, coming through in the postseason with some clutch home runs for the Phillies.
A free agent after the 2023 season, Hoskins was heading into this year with eyes on building his value and cashing in next winter. Now, that could all be on hold.
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Here's what we know about Hoskins' injury status after he went down on Wednesday.
Rhys Hoskins injury update
Hoskins suffered what appeared to be a non-contact left knee injury while fielding a groundball against the Tigers on Wednesday.
Hoskins was trying to handle the ball just behind the infield dirt when he went down in a heap and wasn't able to get up. Medical personnel tended to Hoskins for a few minutes until a cart was brought out to take him off the field.
The Phillies announced Hoskins would "undergo further evaluation and testing" but did not reveal any details about the injury. Medical personnel appeared to be looking at his left knee.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson was interviewed during the game and called Hoskins' injury "concerning" but offered some optimism.
"Maybe it was more fear than pain. They said he was walking around in the clubhouse afterwards," Thomson told NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Non-contact injuries have already caused problems for two NL contenders this spring, as Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux went down with a torn ACL on a non-contact play earlier in March and Mets closer Edwin Diaz suffered a torn patella tendon during a postgame celebration at the World Baseball Classic. Both are expected to miss the entire season.
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The Phillies will cling to hope that Hoskins' injury wasn't as serious as it looked, but testing should reveal the full extent of the injury in the coming days. In the meantime, Darick Hall could be in line for a more significant role with Hoskins on the shelf.
Rhys Hoskins contract
Rhys Hoskins is in his final season under team control before hitting free agency next winter.
The six-year major league veteran agreed to a one-year deal worth $12 million on Jan. 13, avoiding an arbitration hearing with the Phillies.
A fifth-round draft pick in 2014, Hoskins made $7.7 million in 2022.
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