As if resurrecting a fallen MVP wasn’t enough, now a 30-homer slugger on crutches?
The Chicago Cubs are reportedly eyeing first baseman Rhys Hoskins, 30, in free agency. “The Cubs see Hoskins as a good fit for their roster,” The Athletic reported on Wednesday.굿모닝토토 도메인
Hoskins hasn’t appeared in a single game this year. In the top of the second inning of an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers on March 24, Hoskins tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, a serious injury that ultimately ended his season. He attended the League Championship Series championship ring ceremony at the start of the season and barely made it onto the field on crutches.
Although he hasn’t played in a game this year, Hoskins is certainly a big man who could attract interest from teams in free agency.
Hoskins made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2017, hitting .259 with 18 homers and 48 RBIs in 50 games, and he followed that up with a 153-game season in 2018, hitting .246 with 34 homers and 96 RBIs to reach the 30-homer plateau for the first time in his career. In 160 games in 2019, he batted .226 with 29 homers and 85 RBIs, keeping his on-base percentage at .364 while drawing 116 walks, the most in the National League.
After hitting 10 homers in 41 games in a shortened 2020 season, Hoskins hit .247 with 27 homers and 71 RBIs in 107 games in 2021, and last year he hit .246 with 30 homers and 79 RBIs in 156 games, conquering the 30-homer plateau for the first time in four years, especially in the postseason, where he blasted six homers to help Philadelphia finish as World Series runner-up. His major league career numbers are .242 with 148 home runs and 405 RBIs.
Bellinger won the National League MVP in 2019 with the Los Angeles Dodgers after exploding for a .305 average with 47 home runs, 115 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases, but has since fallen off a cliff, hitting just .210 with 19 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases last year before being released by the Dodgers.
It was the Cubs who came to Bellinger’s rescue. The Cubs put their faith in Bellinger by signing him to a one-year, $17.5 million deal, and he bounced back perfectly, hitting .307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. Now that he’s a free agent, Bellinger is looking for a big, long-term deal. He’s already considered the highest-priced free agent outfielder. Therefore, the Cubs should be prepared in case they don”t get him. “If Bellinger signs elsewhere, the Cubs would consider Hoskins as an alternative,” CBS Sports reported.
MLB.com recently ranked Hoskins as the 17th-best free agent in baseball, saying, “If Hoskins’ knee doesn’t become a problem, he could be one of the best power hitters to hit the free agent market this offseason.” The Cubs have a lot of talent on the roster.