The Philadelphia Phillies have spent much of the offseason trying to secure long-term stability by retaining core stars Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, but another familiar name could return if All-Star slugger Bryce Harper gets his wish.
Reports indicate that Harper has been encouraging the organization to pursue free agent first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who is reportedly open to a reunion, although baseball operations president Dave Dombrowski is said to be less enthusiastic about the idea.
Hoskins was originally drafted by Philadelphia in 2014 and spent the first six seasons of his career with the club, finishing fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2017 while recording multiple 30-home run seasons during his time with the team.
His tenure ended after a torn ACL sidelined him for the entire 2023 season, and he later joined the Milwaukee Brewers, though injuries and inconsistent production limited his impact there.
The 32-year-old veteran remains a strong offensive option, particularly against left-handed pitching, carrying a career .882 OPS in over 1,000 plate appearances versus lefties. While he would not replace starters like Harper or Schwarber, Hoskins could serve as a valuable right-handed bench or designated hitter option.
Hoskins’ potential return became more plausible after Philadelphia parted ways with outfielder Nick Castellanos, absorbing the remaining $20 million on his contract before he later signed with the San Diego Padres.
His departure could open a roster spot for a right-handed bat, especially if the Phillies are willing to rotate Schwarber into the outfield, which would allow Hoskins to play at DH and provide support against tough left-handed pitching while competing for at-bats with players such as Brandon Marsh and rookie Justin Crawford.
