Rhys Hoskins sat out both games of the Phillies’ doubleheader with the Marlins today due to an “achy forearm,” as manager Joe Girardi described the problem to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Corey Seidman and other reporters. X-rays were negative on Hoskins’ forearm, though he will undergo an MRI perhaps as early as Monday.
This is the latest in a swarm of bad injury news that has hit the Phillies in just the last two days. Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, and Spencer Howard (the only one on the injured list for now) have all been sidelined with various issues, and the seriousness of any of these injuries has yet to be truly determined.
The good news in Hoskins’ case is that he told The Athletic’s Meghan Montemurro and other reporters that his forearm was already feeling better today after receiving some treatment, and (assuming the MRI is clean) hopefully can return to the lineup as early as Monday. Hoskins said he suffered the injury while trying to make a catch in Saturday’s game.
The first baseman has been one of Philadelphia’s best hitters, batting .245/.384/.503 with 10 home runs over 185 plate appearances. After bursting onto the scene in 2017, Hoskins’ hard-hit ball numbers had been on the decline in 2018-19, though Statcast indicates he is again making strong contact. Hoskins’ 14.8% barrel rate puts him in the 92nd percentile of all players, while his .388 xwOBA puts him in the 90th percentile. Mostly importantly, Hoskins is just about making the most of that contact, with a .376 xOBA only slightly below his xwOBA. The slugger has also continued to capitalize on free passes, posting one of the league’s better walk rates for the second consecutive season.
Darick Hall time
Wheeler, Realmuto, Hoskins, Howard…all during the most important series of the year. Tough break. Likely cost them the season, but this is 2020, the hardest season ever. Got to overcome these injuries, but Phillies have failed to do so.
i mean, that’s 3 of the guys you were hoping would lead the way for this team. how many teams are that plug and go with their players besides the Dodgers? even the Yankees have had issues filling their holes this year.
Oh yeah. I’m not blaming the front office for lack of depth here. I’m just saying all of baseball has had brutal injuries this year. Phillies didn’t overcome it. It’s a tough way to end the season. They’re still alive, but unless these guys come back quick, I see another late-season crumble.
Then there are the Marlins. They lost 18 guys to COVID after the season’s third game and have had 17 players make their big-league debuts this season. We probably all thought their magic run was over after the 29-9 loss to the Braves. So what do they do? Win four of the first six in this Phillies series despite being outscored 34-28. While it’s probably true that they wouldn’t be in the hunt during a normal season, that’s not the hand they or anyone else was dealt. Mike Hill did a great job finding bodies to keep them afloat. If they hang on, he should get serious consideration for MLB Executive of the Year.
Yup. Not taking anything at all away from the Marlins. Much credit to them and I believed in them for the whole season. Ironically the Marlins covid scenario hurt the Phillies more than it hurt the Marlins. (Phillies played 3 double headers this week.) Marlins get all the credit in the world for filling up the roster with solid replacements.
And while Sixto looks great, Realmuto has delivered for two seasons. It’s not a loss trade yet, as Sixto can get injured tomorrow and never play again. We don’t know what the future holds.
Insult to injury is that Sanchez looks pretty darned good. Of all the talented rookie pitchers who’ve come up this year, he’s impressed me the most. That includes May and Gonsolin from my Dodgers. Great stuff, poised, and fearless.
what is annoying is no Philly fans want to look past his performance and see why they traded him. its not like Ferguson Jenkins or Ryne Sandberg as was said in a previous article. Realmuto is by far the best catcher in baseball and that was a reasonable price for him. sure you’d love to have Sixto right now, but what if you didnt trade for JT and he, say, went to the Braves instead? its so far from a lost trade, resign or not.
It’s a lost trade if Realmuto doesn’t re-sign and the Phillies accomplish nothing in his two years. At this moment, they are no longer in second place and very much on the playoff bubble. Meanwhile, the Braves signed d’Arnaud, who has the same 132 OPS-plus as Realmuto. So the Braves are better than the Phillies anyway. I live in Pottstown and know some people who will be sweating out Realmuto this winter. You know the Mets will make a big pitch.
As for best catcher in baseball, I wouldn’t say by far. Grandal is excellent and Will Smith might be that guy by this time next year. It’s easy to see why the Dodgers didn’t trade for Realmuto. Back to Sanchez. That’s the makings of an ace for years to come. And in the Phillies division. Sanchez in Miami and Realmuto in Flushing would be a Phillies disaster.
Exactly
What adds insult to injury is watching a 21 year old future star in Sixto Sanchez throw unhittable ball at his former team. Especially with the realization that Realmuto is as good as gone. What a tragedy…
Negadelphia
A lot of times, pain in the forewarn is an elbow injury which could require TJ surgery. It is somewhat rare for a position player, but certainly not unprecedented.
Thanks Doc.