PHILADELPHIA -- It's a small sample size, but forget about that for a moment.
Rhys Hoskins is generating buzz for a team that has lacked any for quite some time. He went 2-for-3 with a double and home run for a career-high five RBIs in Wednesday night's 8-0 victory over the Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. He has hit seven home runs in his first 14 games in the big leagues. Only Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez have hit more since his Aug. 10 debut.
Since starting his career 0-for-12, Hoskins is hitting .361 (13-for-36) with seven home runs, 15 RBIs, eight walks and a 1.450 OPS.
"You try to keep everything in check and not get too excited, but what I saw in the spring is what I'm seeing now," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said. "Quality at-bats."

Hoskins is eager to please. He approached Mackanin before his plate appearance in the third inning. He asked Mackanin if the Phillies put runners on first and second if he wanted him to the move the runners or drive them in.
Mackanin laughed.
"Rightfully so, I guess," Hoskins said afterward.
"We're paying you to drive runs in," Mackanin said to him. "That's what we're paying you for."

Hoskins immediately fell behind 0-2 to Marlins left-hander Justin Nicolino, but he worked the count full. After fouling off the seventh pitch of the at-bat -- a curveball -- he crushed a 91-mph fastball into the second deck in left field for a three-run home run to give the Phillies a 5-0 lead.
The ball left Hoskins' bat at 109.1 mph and traveled a projected 445 feet, according to Statcast™. It tied Nick Williams' homer on Tuesday night for the Phillies' second-longest homer of the season. Tommy Joseph hit one 447 feet on June 3.
"The more that at-bat went on, the more comfortable I got," Hoskins said. "He left a pitch right over the middle of the plate, and I didn't miss."
Hoskins, who doubled to score two runs in the sixth, hasn't been missing much of anything lately.

Best not leave the room to grab a snack in the kitchen when he is coming to the plate. You might miss something.
"The thing about Hoskins is he knows the strike zone," Mackanin said. "He looks like a professional hitter. He's not afraid to get behind in the count. You could tell that."