All Rhys: Hoskins' revamped approach on display in Crew loss

MILWAUKEE -- A young baseball fan held up a sign at American Family Field on Saturday night with a wish and public service announcement. The sign read “I AM HERE TO SEE RHYS HOSKINS HIT A HOME RUN.”

Hoskins was more than happy to oblige. He crushed a go-ahead three-run homer in the fourth inning, which put the Brewers on the board with a one-run lead over the Marlins.

Milwaukee went on to lose, 7-3, after Miami rallied for five runs against relievers Jared Koenig and Elvis Peguero in the seventh inning.

But for Hoskins, that moment in the fourth inning continued an encouraging trend he’s had at the plate in July -- one that also figures to be key for the Brewers over the next two months as they push for the NL Central title. Hoskins is hitting for more power, and he feels like he’s getting to a better spot at the plate.

“Yeah, I do,” Hoskins said. “Still working on swing decisions. I've always said that if the swing decisions are good, the results usually tend to follow. I like my chances if you’ve got to beat me in the zone. We'll just continue working on pitch recognition and being stubborn to what we do well as a team -- also as me individually.”

In signing Hoskins this past offseason, the Brewers added one of the top power hitters in the Majors in recent seasons. Hoskins hit 148 homers with the Phillies from 2017-22 before missing all of '23 while recovering from surgery for a torn ACL in his left knee.

Through June in his return to the field with Milwaukee this season, Hoskins had a .413 slugging percentage in 62 games, with seven doubles and 11 home runs. In 18 games in July, Hoskins has a .492 slugging percentage, with two doubles and six homers.

“It’s nice to get some results,” added Hoskins, who met the young fan, Reese, after Saturday’s game. “Just gotta keep working for more, always.”

Hoskins already was an important presence in the Brewers’ lineup. With Christian Yelich (lower back) landing on the 10-day IL on Wednesday and sidelined for at least the imminent future, Hoskins figures to only loom larger.

On Saturday, Hoskins flied out to left fielder Bryan De La Cruz in his first plate appearance against Marlins starter Max Meyer in an eight-pitch sequence. When Hoskins stepped to the plate in the fourth, he crushed Meyer’s second pitch a Statcast-projected 386 feet to left field.

“He’s been incredible in that he’s produced big home run after big home run after big home run,” manager Pat Murphy said. “Of his 17 homers, it feels like 10 of them, or more, were at critical times.”

Lately, Hoskins has been working a lot on his setup at the plate and trying to get his body in better -- and more comfortable -- position in the box.

“I think with comfort comes a thoughtless mind,” Hoskins said. “And usually, when you're not thinking much up there, talent tends to come out. Like I said -- continue to fight for more comfort in the box and let the eyes tell me swing or no swing.”

Milwaukee’s lead after Hoskins’ homer held up until the seventh, when Miami sent eight hitters to the plate and rallied for five runs. Emmanuel Rivera hit a line drive leadoff triple off Koenig. Blake Perkins nearly made a great catch but could not hold on upon colliding full-speed with the wall. Vidal Bruján then walked, and Nick Fortes hit a bunt single.

Peguero entered, only to be greeted by De La Cruz and a two-run single before Josh Bell followed with a three-run homer.

“There was a lot of ugliness there,” said Murphy.

The Brewers (59-45) dropped to 9-11 in July after consecutive losses to the Marlins (39-66). Milwaukee has encountered more than its fair share of adversity this month, let alone this week. Ace reliever Bryan Hudson joined Yelich on the IL before Saturday’s game with a left oblique strain.

The game doesn’t slow down for any team, and a young Brewers team knows it must continue pushing forward.

“We’ve got to go through it with our heads on it and not shy away from it,” Murphy said. “We’ve got to go through it. This is an incredibly young ballclub that has played their guts out. Things are swaying the wrong direction for them right now.”