Phillies rookie slugger Rhys Hoskins belted his ninth homer in 16 games, and sixth in the last seven, in Friday night's 7-1 victory against the defending world champion Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park.
by Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com
He is a Philly fan's dream.
Big. Powerful. Productive. Even better thus far than his press clippings would have suggested.
Carson Wentz?
If only ...
Not for nothing, but the dude of all dudes in pro sports around here has been the Phillies' long-overdue August call-up, Rhys Hoskins, not the reputed and overtly promoted savior of all things related to the Eagles.
Oh, really got no issues with Wentz himself. Kid is a nice quarterback. Has some tools. Lotta confidence. Smarts for sure.
But he ain't never showed out like Hoskins already has. Since arriving in town little more than two weeks ago, the 24-year-old slugger has deposited 9 balls in the seats – setting a major-league record in doing so by merely his 54th at-bat in the bigs, and making an absolute mockery of the Phillies' slow-as-molasses way of bringing up prospects.
Thing is, take away his obvious nervousness in the initial four-game series of his stay at Citizens Bank Park and Hoskins has gone off the last 12 games ...
All of his bombs, 20 of his 21 RBIs. Elevating his batting average to respectability, his on-base percentage to beyond that, and his slugging percentage to a Ruthian level.
Love the swing, the bat speed through the proverbial and the leg lift that triggers the whole deal in the first place.
Frankly, not enough is being made of the fact that the youngster is doing this while being forced to play a position – left field – he clearly is not capable of handling to any reasonable level of competency or comfort. Typically, such a chore would effect a player at the plate to ghastly degrees.
Not Hoskins.
While the club continues to run out incumbent Tommy Joseph at first base most of the time, Hoskins basks away in mediocrity in the outfield before taking center stage once he has a bat in his hands.
It's quite amazing.
Especially with what little fanfare is being made about it.
Yeah, we'll go crazy, go nuts about Wentz throwing a bomb to Torrey Smith, and coming up a tad short, mind you, with the receiver bailing him out. The second-year signal-caller has been solid, good even for such a novice in the grand scheme of things. But hardly the gridiron genius we are led to believe, by other fans, media members, or even the Eagles themselves.
Give him time. Maybe he will be all that they say.
Doubt it. But maybe he will.
Hoskins already is all that ... and then some.
For now.
One can only hope this run continues, even albeit at a slower pace.
For those scoring, or tabulating, at home, if Hoskins stayed on his current path he'd hit 90 homers in a season and drive in 210 runs.
Hyperbole aside, let's really delve into this. In the last seven game, which, by the way, have seen the Phillies go 4-3, Hoskins has six homers, 16 RBIs and 10 hits in 25 at-bats (.400).
Heck, only Miami's Giancarlo Stanton can compare to that on the diamond. In football parlance, what are we talking about ... Brady, Brees, Rodgers?
We certainly ain't talking Wentz.
If only, Eagles fans. If only.
Good thing the Phillies waited to bring up Hoskins, huh?
He is a Philly fan's dream.
Big. Powerful. Productive. Even better thus far than his press clippings would have suggested.
Carson Wentz?
If only ...
Not for nothing, but the dude of all dudes in pro sports around here has been the Phillies' long-overdue August call-up, Rhys Hoskins, not the reputed and overtly promoted savior of all things related to the Eagles.
Oh, really got no issues with Wentz himself. Kid is a nice quarterback. Has some tools. Lotta confidence. Smarts for sure.
But he ain't never showed out like Hoskins already has. Since arriving in town little more than two weeks ago, the 24-year-old slugger has deposited 9 balls in the seats – setting a major-league record in doing so by merely his 54th at-bat in the bigs, and making an absolute mockery of the Phillies' slow-as-molasses way of bringing up prospects.
Thing is, take away his obvious nervousness in the initial four-game series of his stay at Citizens Bank Park and Hoskins has gone off the last 12 games ...
All of his bombs, 20 of his 21 RBIs. Elevating his batting average to respectability, his on-base percentage to beyond that, and his slugging percentage to a Ruthian level.
Love the swing, the bat speed through the proverbial and the leg lift that triggers the whole deal in the first place.
Frankly, not enough is being made of the fact that the youngster is doing this while being forced to play a position – left field – he clearly is not capable of handling to any reasonable level of competency or comfort. Typically, such a chore would effect a player at the plate to ghastly degrees.
Not Hoskins.
While the club continues to run out incumbent Tommy Joseph at first base most of the time, Hoskins basks away in mediocrity in the outfield before taking center stage once he has a bat in his hands.
It's quite amazing.
Especially with what little fanfare is being made about it.
Yeah, we'll go crazy, go nuts about Wentz throwing a bomb to Torrey Smith, and coming up a tad short, mind you, with the receiver bailing him out. The second-year signal-caller has been solid, good even for such a novice in the grand scheme of things. But hardly the gridiron genius we are led to believe, by other fans, media members, or even the Eagles themselves.
Give him time. Maybe he will be all that they say.
Doubt it. But maybe he will.
Hoskins already is all that ... and then some.
For now.
One can only hope this run continues, even albeit at a slower pace.
For those scoring, or tabulating, at home, if Hoskins stayed on his current path he'd hit 90 homers in a season and drive in 210 runs.
Hyperbole aside, let's really delve into this. In the last seven game, which, by the way, have seen the Phillies go 4-3, Hoskins has six homers, 16 RBIs and 10 hits in 25 at-bats (.400).
Heck, only Miami's Giancarlo Stanton can compare to that on the diamond. In football parlance, what are we talking about ... Brady, Brees, Rodgers?
We certainly ain't talking Wentz.
If only, Eagles fans. If only.
Good thing the Phillies waited to bring up Hoskins, huh?
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