'Hard not to smile': Hoskins soaks in emotional return to Philly

PHILADELPHIA -- Rhys Hoskins' name had been called over the Citizens Bank Park PA system countless times -- but it had a much different ring to it during Monday night’s series opener between the Phillies and Brewers.

"Batting sixth, Brewers designated hitter, No. 12, Rhys Hoskins."

Brewers? No. 12?

Fans throughout the ballpark -- many wearing red-pinstriped or powder blue Phillies No. 17 jerseys with Hoskins' name scrawled across the back -- rose to their feet to give the visiting No. 12 a standing ovation. The cheers for the former face of the Phillies' franchise and current Brewer drowned out the end of PA announcer Dan Baker's call.

They grew even louder when the Phillies played a video montage on the giant Phanavision board after the first inning that, of course, ended with his iconic bat spike in Game 3 of the 2022 National League Division Series. Hoskins acknowledged the second ovation and “Rhys!” chants from the top step of the visitors' dugout.

Then, he stepped to the plate for his first at-bat in the second inning. Ovation No. 3 was the loudest yet. Hoskins stepped out of the box and saluted the crowd with his helmet before patting his heart repeatedly.

He looked around and nodded, his eyes visibly welling up.

“It was loud,” said Hoskins, who admitted he had tears in his eyes. “I got to sneak a peek up toward our family section, just to see how my wife was doing; it looked like she was probably shedding a couple of tears, too. It was loud, but that’s what this place does.”

It was the first time Hoskins had taken the field at CBP since another emotional moment when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of last season's NL Wild Card Series. That would prove to be Hoskins' last action in a Phillies uniform. His bid to work his way back from a torn ACL sustained in the final week of Spring Training came up short when the club was eliminated in Game 7 of the NL Championship Series.

“The ending didn’t match the rest of my time here, and that’s something that I’m looking forward to kind of getting. I don’t know if closure is the right word -- but just kind of moving on from that chapter,” Hoskins said. “I think tonight will be a nice start for that.”

Hoskins and the Brewers arrived in Philadelphia on Sunday night for his first trip back since signing a two-year, $34 million deal with Milwaukee this offseason.

He went to his old local coffee shop Monday morning. He heard some fans wish him well -- “Hey, good luck today, but not too much luck” -- as he walked around the city. He spent pregame catching up with old friends and teammates on the field. He reminisced about his time with the Phillies, including the bat spike.

“It’s hard not to smile, right?” Hoskins said when asked how he feels when he thinks about the spike.

Then, No. 12 took the field for his first game action at Citizens Bank Park since Game 5 of the 2022 World Series ... and his first ever in any uniform other than the Phillies.

Hoskins popped out in his first at-bat, but he later worked a walk and stole second base, then homered in the seventh -- all against former teammate Zack Wheeler, who ultimately earned the victory in the Phillies' 3-1 win.

“I guess something about competing against people that you know that makes you lock in a little bit,” Hoskins said of controlling his emotions. “But also the guy on the mound is pretty good tonight, so you better do that or you’re probably not going to have too much of a chance.”

Hoskins' impact in Philadelphia stretched far beyond the diamond, where he was one of the key building blocks to help take the Phillies from years of rebuilding to 2022 NL champs. But off the field, Hoskins and his wife, Jayme, established a connection with the city like few others ever could.

The couple was heavily involved in a number of charity initiatives. They hosted two “Go Yard with Rhys Hoskins & MDA” events to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association -- an organization that both have been involved with since high school.

Jayme once scattered Phillies shop gift cards across BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla., for fans to find before a Grapefruit League game. She bought beers for fans during the 2022 postseason -- and then kept doing it as the team kept winning.

"Everyone here knows how important he is and all the things he's done for the community and all the things he's done for this ball club," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "He's just a great teammate, a great guy. He's a competitor. I just can't say enough good things about him."

Added Brewers manager Pat Murphy: “It showed what this game is really all about. Rhys left an impression on this fanbase like he will on ours. People already recognize who the guy is, recognize how he goes about his business and what a pro he is, what a teammate he is.”

With the Brewers sitting atop the NL Central and the Phillies leading the way in the NL East, it’s possible that Hoskins’ next trip to Philadelphia could come this October.

“Those are games that you live for, so no matter who we’re playing or where it is, I’m sure it will be great,” Hoskins said of a potential postseason showdown. “But I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t mean a little bit extra.”