The Philadelphia Phillies need to add a first baseman to replace Rhys Hoskins, who is done for the year. An option just hit the trade market.
The Philadelphia Phillies were already going to be without superstar outfielder Bryce Harper for a significant portion of the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery. With one week to go before Opening Day, the Phillies took another big hit, as first baseman Rhys Hoskins suffered a non-contact knee injury during an exhibition game on Thursday.
While manager Rob Thomson said that Hoskins was walking around in the clubhouse, the team’s worst fears were confirmed. On Thursday, the Phillies announced that Hoskins had suffered a torn ACL, and is expected to be out for the entirety of the 2023 season.
This leaves the Phillies in a tough spot, as they open up their season on March 30 against the Texas Rangers. Who could the team replace Hoskins with for the season? Well, there is one player who just became available.
Keston Hiura trade looks like perfect way for Phillies to replace Rhys Hoskins
MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy tweeted out that the Milwaukee Brewers have informed Keston Hiura that he won’t be making the team’s Opening Day roster. General manager Matt Arnold said, via McCalvy, that they will be looking at trade options for Hiura in the coming days.
FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray recently suggested Hiura as an option for the Phillies, along with Luke Voit:
“Hiura, meanwhile, is a different story. Once a top prospect and regarded as one of the best young hitters in baseball, his career has taken a drastic turn. He’s hitting a mere .238/.318/.453 in four major-league seasons and has once again struggled this spring. He is out of minor-league options and is a prime change-of-scenery candidate.
“Perhaps that could be in Philadelphia. Either Voit and Hiura figure to come cheap via trade and a move would help the Brewers solve their infield logjam. It’s unclear if talks have taken place, but on paper, a trade would certainly make sense for both sides.”
Hiura showed promise in his first MLB season back in 2019, when he recorded a .303 batting average, a .368 on-base percentage, a .570 slugging percentage, 19 home runs, 49 RBI, 51 runs scored, and 95 hits in 84 games played. Hiura’s numbers fell off in the following three years, as Murray points out.
This past season, Hiura slashed .226/.316/.449 while posting 14 home runs, 32 RBI, 34 runs scored, 53 hits, and 111 strikeouts in 80 games played.
In spring training, Hiura recorded a .156 batting average, a .448 OPS, one run scored, three RBI, five hits, and 15 strikeouts in 12 games played.
Hiura could benefit from joining a team like the Phillies, especially in a lineup containing Trea Turner, Nicholas Castellanos, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber. The Phillies should consider bringing in Hiura as an option at first base.
Until then, it looks like the Phillies will be going with Darick Hall as their starting first baseman.