The Phillies teased a very special first pitch prior to Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.
The crowd at Citizens Bank Park erupted when they saw a Rhys Hoskins montage on Phanavision. He came out of the Phillies dugout to his longtime walk-up song “Slide” by Calvin Harris and the thunderous applause of Phillies fans who miss seeing him in the batter’s box.
Hoskins lifted his cap, pointed to the Phillies logo on his t-shirt and pulled out a rally towel out of his back pocket and started waiving it.
Nearly a year ago, a beer and champagne soaked Hoskins professed his excitement for the return of Red October inside the visiting clubhouse at Busch Stadium. He wanted to see the towels waiving in unison. He wondered if they would be red or white.
The circumstances are much different this time. Hoskins has not played at all this season due to a torn ACL he suffered in spring training. He is attempting to return to the Phillies as either a designated hitter or pinch hitter during the World Series — if the Phillies make it that far.
It’s why it was only fitting as Hoskins stood on the mound, the catcher’s box was empty. Dan Baker introduced his teammate Kyle Schwarber as the one designated to catch Hoskins’ first pitch.
Schwarber is a reminder that even though this all sounds insane, it can be done.
“I would be lying if I didn’t say I was shocked when I got put on the roster,” Schwarber said after Game 1.
Schwarber, a 23-year-old at the time, tore his ACL, LCL and sprained his ankle on April 7, 2016. Six months and 18 days later, Schwarber was batting fifth as the designated hitter for the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series against Cleveland.
The days leading up to his return were a whirlwind. He played in two Arizona Fall League games during the NLCS. His at-bats weren’t great, but the Cubs said why not and took a chance. Schwarber went 7-for-17 and the Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years.
“For me, I was a little bit rushed,” Schwarber said. “Just in terms of, you know, it was the National League Championship Series and I got the OK from there. I was luckily able to get to the Fall League and spend a lot of hours out there on the field, hitting off the machine and things like that. Just trying to get your eye back. You know, tracking, watching, a lot of things that Rhys has been doing, and you know, now it’s just the fact of trying to get into the box again, hit off some pitchers and see what it’s like.”
It sounds like Hoskins’ journey towards a return will be a bit more thorough. He’s now working out of the Phillies’ spring training complex in Clearwater, Florida. He will face live pitching at the Phillies’ “stay-ready camp.” There was no thought to having Hoskins continue the rehab process in Philadelphia.
“It’s just too busy right now,” Thomson said.
That doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of Hoskins in the dugout in the playoffs. He could return to Philadelphia at least once to get checked by the medical staff.
“I don’t know the exact number, but I would say 40-ish, 50 maybe [at-bats], and then we’ll see where he’s at, how he feels,” Thomson said.
No matter what happens, the Phillies are happy to see Hoskins get his moment. He’s beloved in the Phillies clubhouse and his presence as a level-headed leader is appreciated.
Nick Castellanos said he has worn the No. 17 on the side of his cap all year.
“I was fighting back — trying not to cry,” Castellanos said when asked about Hoskins’ first pitch. “He symbolizes Philadelphia honestly, more than any of the signees that have come here after the fact. He’s born and raised in this organization. And was here when, you know, the team wasn’t winning, and this year, all the way up through last year. … So for him to go out there and be able to get love from this city, this organization. I mean, it was perfect.”
“I think it shouldn’t be understated what he’s brought to the team and what he’s brought for himself to where he’s putting in so much work this year to be in this position and get this opportunity to try,” Schwarber said. “He means so much to this team. I’m happy that he was able to get that moment tonight to go out there in front of the 46,000 here tonight and get his moment because he deserves it. He means that much to us.”
Phillies Notes
- Thomson said prior to Game 2 that Ranger Suárez was more of an “extra inning” guy. That will likely be his role on Wednesday night, but the Phillies manager left the door open to possibly using him earlier in the game. “Depending on what Nola does,” Thomson said.
- Cristopher Sánchez is available out of the bullpen. José Alvarado is expected to be available after throwing 17 pitches on Tuesday. “I think everybody’s on board tonight,” Thomson said.
- On the controversial calls by Dusty Wathan in Game 1, Thomson, a former third-base coach himself, had this to say: “I coached third base for a long time. I was pretty good. I’m not as good as him. I’m not even close.” The Phillies’ advanced scouting reports identified both Jesús Sánchez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. as outfielders who possess strong arms, but Sánchez was the much more accurate thrower. “It just so happens that Sanchez throws the ball off line and Chisholm throws a strike to the plate and sometimes those things happen. And you kind of feel silly, but to me, both of those decisions were the right decisions.”
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