The Philadelphia Phillies have returned this season with largely the same batting order that has disappointed in the playoffs recently.
After winning just a single postseason game for two years in a row, the Phillies re-signed JT Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber. But, at least briefly, it seemed as if a very different kind of reunion would be in the cards as well.
“Sources tell me Bryce Harper has been advocating for more right handed power and someone who could give the Phillies more emotional edge/swagger. I’m told Harper suggested Dave Dombrowski look into a reunion with Rhys Hoskins who remains a free agent,” FOX29 Philly’s Devan Kaney reported on X, formerly Twitter, in February. “I’m told Hoskins is game to come back and finish the job with the Phillies.”
Philadelphia Phillies’ Former Slugger Rhys Hoskins Joins American League Central
That report seemed to gain some traction, particularly among Phillies fans who remembered Hoskins for his slugging, including a 34 home run season in 2018. But instead, Hoskins joined the Cleveland Guardians on a minor league contract and earned a spot on the Opening Day big-league roster.
But even though a reunion with his old team never came to fruition, Hoskins recently demonstrated that he’s still following the Phillies. He performed remarkably well when he was challenged to list the team’s top-10 home run leaders since his own debut in 2017, as shown in a video posted on X by Bullpen Banter. And his answers included a reminder for the team about his own place in its recent record books.
“I’ll go with the easy ones,” Hoskins said when asked to name the team’s recent home run leaders. “(Kyle) Schwarber, Harper, I’ll say myself.”
Schwarber has 187 homers for the Phillies since joining the team in 2022, Harper has 179 since 2019 and Hoskins racked up 148 between his debut in 2017 and his final season in 2022.
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But after naming the top-four long ball leaders by quickly adding JT Realmuto to that list, Hoskins struggled with a pair of star members in the rankings. Franchise shortstop Trea Turner was on his mind, but he doubted the infielder had racked up many home runs in his Phillies tenure.
“Trea probably hasn’t hit enough homers,” Hoskins said, before being told that he was in fact number eight on the list. “Yes he has, of course he has. Sorry Trea.”
And he also struggled to recall Nick Castellanos, who has hit the fifth most homers for the Phillies since 2017 but was released following some public disputes with the team last year.
“I’m blanking,” Hoskins said as he was given several hints before naming Castellanos. “Sorry Nick.”
This article was originally published on Forbes.com