PHILADELPHIA -- Dylan Cozens, Rhys Hoskins and Ben Lively hope the next time they are wearing suits at Citizens Bank Park they are leaving for a road trip with the Phillies.
It could happen as early as next season, but Tuesday night they were at the ballpark to receive their Paul Owens Awards as the organization's best Minor League players and pitcher.
"It's pretty surreal," Hoskins said about seeing former Double-A Reading teammates Roman Quinn and Jorge Alfaro already with the Phillies. "It's pretty cool. Starting to see these guys here and guys we've played against coming up through the Minor Leagues that are with other organizations in the big leagues. Hopefully we're next."
Hoskins, 23, hit .281 with 38 home runs, 116 RBIs, eight stolen bases and a .566 slugging percentage with Reading. He ranked second in the Minor Leagues in home runs, third in RBIs and total bases (282) and tied for ninth in extra-base hits (65). The Phillies selected the first baseman in the fifth round of the 2014 Draft.
Cozens, 22, hit .276 with 40 home runs, 125 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a .591 slugging percentage with Reading. He led the Minors in home runs, RBIs, extra-base hits (83) and total bases (308). Cozens, who the Phillies selected in the second round of the 2012 Draft, set the Reading single-season home run record. He also earned the Eastern League MVP Award and earned a spot on the MLB Futures Game roster.
"I wish I was on that side right now instead on this side getting interviewed," Cozens said from the Phillies' dugout. "But it's definitely probably not too far away. I'm excited to hopefully be here next year."
Lively, 24, went a combined 18-5 with a 2.69 ERA, 0.94 WHIP (42 walks, 118 hits), 139 strikeouts and a .192 opponents' batting average with Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is the first Minor Leaguer to win 18 games in a season since Colorado's Jhoulys Chacín in 2008. Lively led the International League in WHIP and opponents' batting average and finished second in ERA.
Lively, who won Reds Minor League Player of the Year in 2014, was acquired from Cincinnati in a trade for Marlon Byrd in Dec. 2014.
"If you pitch your butt off down there in the Minor Leagues you'll get your opportunity up here," Lively said. "Even if you have a couple of rough games up here they know you're going to get yourself figured out and get you ready for big league hitters up here."
Of course, nothing will be handed to them. Triple-A outfielder Nick Williams was a heavy favorite to make the Phillies at some point this season, but he struggled late in the year and never got promoted. But certainly if Cozens and Hoskins continue to hit with the IronPigs and Lively continues to keep the ball down in the strike zone like he did this year those opportunities should come.
"It's not my call, but if I play as good as I know I can I think it should happen for sure," Cozens said.