Rhys Hoskins, the power-hitting first baseman, is embarking on a new chapter with the Cleveland Guardians after signing a minor-league deal on February 22. If he makes the Guardians' opening-day roster, Hoskins will earn a base salary of $1.5 million, as reported by Zack Meisel of The Athletic.
Hoskins' journey has been an eventful one. He joined the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024 with a hefty two-year contract, valued at $12 million for the first year and $18 million for the second, after opting in for 2025. This move came on the heels of a challenging 2023 season, which he missed entirely due to a torn ACL.
In 2024, Hoskins showcased his slugging prowess with 26 home runs. However, his overall performance was a mixed bag, reflected in a .722 OPS and a negative WAR according to Baseball Reference, with Fangraphs giving him a slight edge at 0.2 WAR.
The following year, Hoskins started strong but was sidelined by a sprained thumb, limiting his appearances to 90 games. During this time, Andrew Vaughn's emergence at first base meant Hoskins wasn't included in the Brewers' postseason plans. Despite these setbacks, he managed to hit 38 home runs over his two seasons with Milwaukee, finishing with a .732 OPS.
One of the highlights of Hoskins' tenure with the Brewers was his emotional return to Philadelphia, where he launched a home run against his former team. This was a memorable moment, as it was the only run scored against Zack Wheeler that day. He also left his mark with two home runs in a game on May 31 in Philadelphia.
As Hoskins joins the Guardians, fans will be eager to see if he can recapture his form and bring his power-hitting abilities to Cleveland's lineup.