Dave Dombrowski says Darick Hall will get the majority of playing time at first base

Darick Hall is expected to get the majority of playing time at first base with Rhys Hoskins out with an ACL tear, according to president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.

The Phillies officially announced Thursday evening that an MRI revealed Hoskins suffered a left knee anterior cruciate ligament tear that will require surgery. Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer added that Dombrowski said Hoskins will get a second opinion, but, “it’s clear there is a tear.”

Hoskins suffered the injury while trying to field a ground ball during a spring training game against the Tigers on Thursday. He was carted off the field with his Phillies teammates surrounding him.

The Phillies have not made a decision on whether or not Hall will face both righties and lefties. Dombrowski noted that most of the playing time available to Hall will be against righties anyway.

In his first season with the big league club, Hall slashed .266/.300/.565 with nine home runs and 16 RBIs against right handed pitching. His playing time was limited against lefties due to his drastic platoon splits. He had a .591 OPS against lefties in the minor leagues last season.

Hall is no stranger to stepping up for the Phillies in the wake of a major injury. When Bryce Harper went down with a broken thumb at the end of June, Hall was called up to the Phillies and batted cleanup in his first game. All he did was hit three home runs in his first three games.

If the Phillies decide against Hall facing lefties, they could shift Alec Bohm to first base and play Edmundo Sosa at third base against a left-handed starter. The Phillies are looking for ways to give Sosa more opportunities to start, so it could be an option if they want to optimize matchups and strengthen the infield defense. Though, it’s possible the Phillies do not prefer to continually shift Alec Bohm between third and first.

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