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Rhys Hoskins just won’t stop

On Episode 149 of The Felske Files, host John Stolnis talks about the never-ending homer barrage from rookie Rhys Hoskins and the potential of the 2018 Phillies offense.

By John Stolnis

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MLB: Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Episode 149 of The Felske Files is brought to you by Anthony Arot and The Nash Wealth Management Group! Check them out here!

You’d think after a full month of doing amazing things, we’d become numb to it. Or, at least, we’d come to expect it. But that hasn’t happened with Rhys Hoskins and his insane home run barrage with the Phillies.

Not yet, anyway.

Last night, he hit No. 18. He’s played 34 Major League games in his life. He is now three home runs shy of the Phillies team lead (Tommy Joseph has 21), and that is now entirely in reach, as Joseph is on the bench in favor of Hoskins.

It really is incredible. No one has ever done this, and the incredible statistical notes that come out game after game continue to bear that out.

His 39 RBIs in his first 34 games is more than any player in history (Albert Pujols, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and someone named Zeke Bonura each had 37). He has a home run in three straight games for the third time this season. The last time someone did that was Jayson Werth in 2009. His 18 home runs in his first 34 games are five more than any other player in history. After walking twice last night, he now has just as many walks as strikeouts this season (26). And he is one of 36 MLB players with at least 10 homers with two strikes in the count. Giancarlo Stanton has 9, by the way.

There are many more stats like this, but what is clear is that Rhys Hoskins is locked in in a way that we have never seen before at the start of a career. Will he be able to keep this up forever? Of course not. But his plate discipline combined with his ability to make contact and hit for power offer true superstar potential.

So while it may be wise to pump the brakes a little, to hell with that. It’s been a loooooooooong 2017 Phils season. Let’s dream a little on Rhys Hoskins, mmkay?

On this episode of The Felske Files I talked with Associated Press Phillies beat writer Rob Maaddi about Hoskins and the super-charged Phils offense, and what it could look like for 2018.

Also on this week’s podcast...

  • Nick Williams, Odubel Herrera, Aaron Altherr, Jorge Alfaro and Hoskins lead a much-improved bunch of bats... how good can they be in 2018?
  • How will the Phillies improve their pitching staff next year?
  • Japanese star Shoehei Otani will be posted by his club and come to the Majors next season
  • Why it’s a longshot for the Phillies to land the Japanese phenom.
  • With Maaddi... how good can Nick Williams be?
  • Is Odubel Herrera a “winning player?” (of course he is)
  • An interview with Graham Womack of The Sporting News, in which he talked to Chase Utley about his Hall of Fame chances
  • What are Utley’s chances of being inducted into Cooperstown?
  • STAT OF THE WEEK
  • ADVERTISE WITH THE FELSKE FILES! Email John Stolnis at jstolnis@gmail.com for rates. I have rates to match every budget!
  • PLEASE VISIT THE FELSKE FILES TEEPUBLIC.COM STORE, the BEST collection of Phillies T-shirts anywhere on the interworld! Click right here for phenomenal T-shirts and other apparel!

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