A Rhys Hoskins return for the NLCS is ‘a stretch,’ but a possibility

ATLANTA — The Phillies are not ruling out a possible Rhys Hoskins (torn left ACL) return during the National League Championship Series.

Philadelphia, of course, has to get there first, but they’re in a good position as of Monday. They are up 1-0 in the Division Series against the Atlanta Braves and with a win on Monday in Game 2, could return to Citizens Bank Park with a chance to clinch the series in Game 3 and move on to the CS.

“I think it’s a stretch for the Championship Series,” Thomson told reporters prior to Game 2 in Atlanta. “I guess there is a slight possibility there. More of a possibility, obviously, with the World Series.”

Hoskins is currently at the Phillies’ “stay-ready” camp in Clearwater, Florida facing live pitching. Thomson says he’s had around 20 at-bats. Hoskins also spends time tracking pitches — and hitting — off of a HitTrax machine that can replicate the repertoire of any major league pitcher.

Hoskins tore his left ACL during a spring training game in March. Game 1 of the NLCS is Oct. 16. That would mark exactly 200 days (six months and 16 days) since Hoskins underwent surgery to repair his ACL if he returns that soon.

Thomson said he’s not sure how many at-bats Hoskins will need before he’s ready to face live pitching in the postseason. He says the reports on Hoskins’ at-bats are good. The Phillies manager joked that he would love to watch video of the at-bats, but he’s not sure how to access them via the Phillies’ internal Slack and Microsoft Teams channels.

It’s unclear what Hoskins’ role would be if he does return to the team. He would only come back as a designated hitter or pinch hitter. The Phillies will benefit from keeping Johan Rojas in center field, either Brandon Marsh or Cristian Pache in left field and Kyle Schwarber out of the outfield entirely.

All things considered, it sounds like the 2023 Phillies could best use a returning Hoskins in a pinch hit role.

Thomson said he is not sure if the Phillies would be open to rostering Hoskins for the Championship Series before he is ready to take at-bats in games in a scenario where Hoskins is ready to re-join the Phillies in the middle of the Championship Series, but not for Game 1. It’s something the Phillies would definitely be willing to do for the World Series.

“The only thing you have to be afraid of is if you take somebody off for the Championship Series, they are not available for the World Series,” Thomson said. “So that’s the problem you run into.

“But I mean, I guess anything is possible.”

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