The Milwaukee Brewers' recent foray into the free agent market didn't pan out as hoped. Two years ago, they signed Rhys Hoskins, a former Philadelphia Phillies standout, to a two-year, $34 million deal. This move was feasible because Hoskins was recovering from ACL surgery and sought a short-term contract to rebuild his value.
Brewers fans envisioned Hoskins delivering postseason heroics and anchoring the lineup, but his performance fell short of expectations set by his Philadelphia days. In his first season post-surgery, Hoskins hit 26 homers but struggled with a .214 batting average and a .303 on-base percentage, marking him as a below-league-average hitter by OPS+. Defensive challenges at first base contributed to a -0.2 bWAR, making his debut season in Milwaukee underwhelming.
Despite a rocky 2024, Hoskins opted to stay with the Brewers for another year. He started strong, emerging as the team's best hitter in the first two months.
However, a slump in June followed by a thumb sprain in July sidelined him, leading to a frustrating turn of events. During his recovery, Andrew Vaughn seized the opportunity, going on a hot streak that cemented his place in the lineup, leaving Hoskins out of the starting role and off the postseason roster.
Hoskins' tenure with the Brewers was challenging, especially as he approached free agency needing to enhance his market value. Reflecting on this period with Guardians' insider Tim Stebbins, Hoskins said, "...sometimes you just get dealt a bad hand.
Obviously Vaughn was able to do what he was doing. We were winning a ton of games, so I understood.
I didn't like it, but I understood where the Brewers were coming from."
Now, Hoskins is looking to make his mark with the Cleveland Guardians after signing a minor league deal. Despite the setbacks in Milwaukee, he remains a consummate professional, acknowledging the Brewers' decisions while focusing on his future opportunities.
Although Hoskins didn't meet the high expectations in Milwaukee, his leadership played a crucial role in the Brewers' consecutive NL Central titles. His stats may not shine, but his presence undoubtedly contributed to the team's success.