Replacing Rhys: Examining the Options.
Last week’s season ending injury to first basemen Rhys Hoskins couldn’t have come at a worse time, as the Phillies were close to the end of spring training, and already without Bryce Harper until at least the All-Star break. Optimistically.
Hoskins, the Phillies longest tenured player, put up a 2022 stat line of 30 home runs, 79 RBI’s, along with a .246 batting average. That’s production that will be difficult to replace for the 2022 National League Champion Phillies.
Already burdened by injuries to Harper, and Ranger Suarez, who injured his pitching elbow in the 2023 World Baseball Classic while competing for Team Venezuela , the loss of Hoskins creates another challenge out of the gate for a team with lofty post-season expectations.
So what do the Phillies do? They seem to have enough depth and positional versatility to patch things together until Harper returns mid-season, but don’t count out the possibility of General Manager Dave Dombrowski looking to make a late spring training move. Let’s take a look at how the Phillies might choose to fill the void left by Hoskins in 2023.
We’ll begin with assessing the internal options on the Phillies unofficial 26 man roster to begin the season. The most likely scenario would see Alec Bohm moving across the diamond to handle first base, with a combination of utility guys like 2022 trade deadline acquisition Edmundo Sosa and off-season signing Josh Harrison taking over third base duties.
Darick Hall, who arrived from Triple AAA Lehigh Valley on June 29th, made a name for himself quickly with a shocking display of power, helping to carry the team for a couple week stretch when injuries made the everyday lineup thin.
Hall’s strong spring training numbers .294/5/11 would seem to make him an ideal left-handed hitting platoon partner at first base with Bohm. At least to begin the season.
External options also exist, with former 2020 American League Home Run Champion Luke Voit having recently been released by the Milwaukee Brewers.
The slugging Voit has battled his share of injuries, has noticeably regressed at the plate, and will be moving on to his fourth team in a calendar year. But the power is there, perhaps the Phillies swoop in to buy low on his past potential?
One time Red Sox prospect Bobby Dalbec has endured his fair share of success and failure at the major league level since bursting onto the scene as a legitimate power threat in the covid shortened 2020 season.
The raw power has never been a question, what’s problematic is a career strikeout to walk ratio of 34.9/7.5. That’s a more than concerning problem with strike three.
Capable of playing all over the field, and blocked by rookie Triston Casas for everyday at-bats, the Red Sox might be willing to sell low on Dalbec, and as a former general manager for Boston, Dombrowski could potentially swoop in to plug a roster need with a player he is more than certainly familiar with.
And that brings us to Jesus Aguilar, a one time all star with the Milwaukee Brewers, and currently signed to a $5 million one year deal with the Oakland Athletics.If. Aguilar, who spent his 2022 season split between the Miami Marlins and the Baltimore Orioles, somehow becomes available, it could be another low risk/ high reward solution at first base for the Phillies.
Whatever direction the Phillies take, who ultimately handles first base in 2023 will be a hot topic of discussion. With less than a week before opening day, the clock is ticking.
