Could Philadelphia Phillies Pursue Available All-Star First Baseman?

With Rhys Hoskins out for the season due to injury for the Philadelphia Phillies, a newly available MLB All-Star could be a solution..

Regina Ham | May 20, 2023

Could Philadelphia Phillies Pursue Available All-Star First Baseman? /

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Philadelphia Phillies

It's been a wild ride at first base for the Philadelphia Phillies through May. Losing Rhys Hoskins so early to a non-contact injury during spring training wasn't ideal. He underwent surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) back in March.

Since then, they've ranked in the bottom five of Major League Baseball in terms of first base depth. The only two players who are active on the chart are Alec Bohm and Kody Clemens. Darick Hall is on the injured list and recovering after surgery on a torn ligament in his thumb.

Phillies manager Rob Thompson said it'll be at least a month before Bryce Harper can take over at first. So with two men available to play at first, adding someone else might be a good idea.

Enter Chicago Cubs first baseman, Eric Hosmer.

Hosmer was designated for assignment by the Cubs before Friday's game against the Phillies. It ended a very anticlimactic tenure with Chicago for the 33-year-old. He was slashing .234/.280/.330 with 14 home runs and 14 RBI.

It's not a surprise as Hosmer has struggled at the plate in 2023. And with the Cubs bringing up prospect Matt Mervis, it's time for Hosmer to roost at another club.

Philadelphia needs someone and Hosmer would be an ideal candidate.

Granted, he is not a fantastic hitter, he is a few ticks below MLB average this season. He's got an extremely groundball approach at the plate but that's not why the Phillies need to pick him up. Having someone else who's actually played first will bolster depth. Bohm is a third baseman who is handed off to play at first and Clemens wasn't even originally on the roster.

You can option Clemens because they have to carry Hosmer. There are ways to make it work if the Phillies want to take the low-risk, low-reward option.

Hosmer will really be someone that can at least be reliable in the infield defensively. He also offers leadership skills and a championship pedigree. The man has a World Series title from his time with the Kansas City Royals, a Silver Slugger, and four Gold Gloves.

Experience is the main thing the Phillies need and for a bargain, adding Hosmer might be the right move.

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Published May 20, 2023

REGINA HAM

Regina Ham is an editor and writer for Inside the Phillies. As an alumna of the University of Maryland-College Park, she studied both broadcast and multimedia journalism. A six-year veteran of the sports industry, she's worked in radio, television, and online media. You can follow her on Twitter @regina_ham or Instagram @reginamariesports. Upon her undergraduate education, Regina went to work in 2016 for Sirius XM-Satellite Radio on College Sports Nation/ESPNU for two years. During her time in school, Regina interned at a variety of Washington, D.C.-area media organizations, including NBC Sports Washington and WTOP. There she assisted in coverage of local MLB and NHL teams. She also interned down at WAAY 31 in Huntsville, AL and worked on stories regarding the local Minor League Baseball affiliate and SEC football. Regina worked in international sports television for almost four years, covering sports from MLS to the KHL and the KBO. She joined Philly Sports Network in 2022 and covers both the Phillies and Philadelphia Flyers before joining the Sports Illustrated network in 2023. You can follow her on Twitter @Regina_ham or on Instagram @reginamariesports. If you have any questions or comments, she can be reached at regina.ham28@gmail.com.