Prospect Nation 2016: #14 1B Rhys Hoskins

Rhys Hoskins, image- Jay Floyd

First baseman Rhys Hoskins made significant impressions in his first full season as a pro in 2015. With a powerful bat and a great approach at the plate, the righty hitting slugger could be on a fast pace toward the upper levels of the sport.

A product of Cal State- Sacramento, Hoskins tallied a .319 average with 25 home runs and 128 RBI in 168 college games prior to turning pro.

Drafted by the Phillies as a 5th round selection in 2014, Hoskins made his minor league debut as a member of the Class A short-season Williamsport Crosscutters. In 70 games there, the California native posted a .237 average with nine homers and 40 RBI. He was said to have hit better there than his numbers would show, as he hit into a lot of hard outs and lacked luck at the plate.

He would spend time at the Florida Instructional League following the regular season. It was there that coaches implemented a leg kick as a timing mechanism, to assist with Hoskins' efforts at the plate. It worked very well and the proof was in the numbers to come.

After a strong spring, Hoskins would open his 2015 campaign with Class A Lakewood. In 68 games for the BlueClaws, the 22-year-old put together a .322/.397/.525 slash line en route to being named a South Atlantic League All-Star and earned a promotion.

At the time of the move, Hoskins led or was near the top of the Sally League in many statistical categories including hits, OPS and RBI.

After moving up to Class A Advanced Clearwater, Hoskins would notch a .317/.394/.510 slash line in 67 games for the Threshers.

This off-season, Hoskins is playing with Sydney in the Australian Baseball League. Through 44 regular season games, Hoskins sported a .324 batting average with eight home runs, 38 RBI and a .944 OPS.

Hoskins impressed coaches last year with his outstanding pitch selection. He doesn't swing at many bad pitches. The youngster sports above average bat speed and can really drive the ball to the opposite field. He is just a flat out impressive hitter. Hoskins touts more power than nearly everyone on this list, with the exception of outfielder Nick Williams, whose entry is still to come on this countdown. Please excuse that spoiler.

Speed is not a factor on the field for Hoskins. The six-foot-four 225-pounder has been successful in seven of 14 steal attempts in his young career and is a typical power hitting big man in that regard.

On the defensive side of the game, Hoskins has very good reaction time and solid range to handle batted balls at first base.

There likely won't be many other lists ranking Hoskins as highly as I've placed him in the Phils system. I do however feel his bat is among the best the team has in their lower levels.

With the organization having a need for a slugging first baseman in the big leagues, they'll hope Hoskins can continue to progress at a consistent pace as he moves up the developmental ladder. His ceiling is as an everyday middle of the lineup RBI guy in the majors.

Hoskins should get some time in the coming season at the Double-A level. It's unclear if he would open the season there, but another hot spring could lock up that assignment in the early going for him.

Follow this year's full prospect countdown by clicking this link.

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against. The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog