Rhys Hoskins named International League MVP & ROY

Rhys Hoskins has made a huge impact since joining the Phillies, and now, he’s being recognized for the impact he had while with the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs prior to his call-up.

Hoskins was named MVP and Rookie of the Year after hitting .284/.385/.581 in 115 games this season. His 29 home runs led the International League for most of the season, but even with nearly three weeks in the Major Leagues, he is still just one behind the league leaders.

His 91 RBIs are still tops in the IL, as is his OPS of .966. He also threw in 24 doubles and four triples this season while at AAA, and his 29 dingers shattered the Iron Pigs record of 26, set by Andy Tracy in 2009.

That followed a 2016 season in Reading in which he slugged 42 taters and drove in 132 with a slash line of .274/.369/.545. He had been one of the most prolific power hitters in baseball over the last two years.

He has, of course, burst onto the scene in the Majors since joining the Phillies on August 10. In 80 PAs thus far, the left fielder/first baseman is hitting .309/.413/.824 with 11 homers and 25 RBIs. He became the first player in MLB history to hit 11 home runs in his first 19 games. In fact, no MLB player has ever done it in less than 23.

He is in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak in which he is batting .395/.465/1.079 with eight homers and 20 RBIs during that stretch. His streak of hitting a home run in at least five straight games ended on Monday, although he did go 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a single in that contest.

Hoskins won the Paul Owens Award last year for Phillies minor league hitters, and it is possible he could follow up his International League MVP and ROY awards with his second straight Paul Owens Award as well.

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