GLENDALE, Ariz. -- On Oct. 15, 2016, Cleveland beat Toronto, 2-1, at Progressive Field in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series. Josh Tomlin outdueled J.A. Happ, and Carlos Santana hit a solo home run.
Rhys Hoskins remembers the game well. He was in attendance, after all, sitting behind the first-base dugout. Following his 2016 season in Double-A with the Phillies’ organization, he spent the offseason in Cleveland, where his wife, Jayme, worked for the NFL’s Browns.
“So I have some Cleveland roots in me,” Hoskins said.
Hoskins is looking to add another chapter to his Cleveland story, after his Minor League deal with the Guardians became official on Monday. It followed a unique few days for the 32-year-old, whose agent alerted him about a potential deal with Cleveland on Friday. Hoskins then spoke to manager Stephen Vogt, and hit the road to Arizona from his home in Sacramento on Saturday.
“Talking with [Vogt] and the way that he sees this team and how he sees the game, I think matches up with a lot of things that I've been able to accomplish in my career,” said Hoskins, who’s expected to make his spring debut later this week. “[I’m] trying to come in here and find a way to make an impact and make this team and help these guys win.”
Hoskins’ deal with Cleveland marked the end of a free agency which he acknowledged didn’t go exactly how he envisioned. The eight-year veteran of the Phillies and Brewers was without a job as Spring Training began. He inked a Minor League deal, despite a résumé which includes 186 homers and a career .820 OPS.
This was Hoskins’ second foray into free agency; he hit the open market after the 2023 season, which he missed while recovering from a torn left ACL. The ‘25 season was challenging in its own way.
“I think the first word that typically comes to my mind is 'incomplete,'” Hoskins said of his past season.
Hoskins was limited to 90 games with Milwaukee last year. He suffered a left thumb sprain on July 5, which sidelined him until September. When he returned in the final month, he received sporadic playing time due to Andrew Vaughn’s emergence at first base in his stead.
Hoskins, however, was slashing .242/.340/.428 with 12 homers and 42 RBIs in 82 games before the thumb injury. He has an opportunity to impact the Guardians’ lineup as a power-hitting right-handed batter, and he has a good track record as a clubhouse presence. He is ready to turn the page.
“I know it's still in there,” Hoskins said. “I know I can be a productive player in this league. I think I proved that last year. But sometimes you just get dealt a bad hand.
“Obviously Vaughn was able to do what he was doing. We were winning a ton of games, so I understood. I didn't like it, but I understood where the Brewers were coming from. But I still think I can be a productive everyday player in this league, and that's what I'll set out to do.”
Hoskins and Vogt share a mutual tie in Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who was Milwaukee’s bench coach while Vogt played for the Crew in 2017. Hoskins said folks around the Brewers continually spoke highly of Vogt, and the Guardians’ skipper talked to Murphy about Hoskins before the slugger joined Cleveland.
Vogt said everyone he’s talked to about Hoskins has raved about him as a person and teammate. And as a former player, Vogt can perhaps relate to Hoskins’ feeling of there being perhaps unfinished business and more on the table.
A good year from Hoskins in Cleveland would be mutually beneficial. He’s positioned to re-enter free agency this coming offseason, and the Guardians could desperately use a right-handed power hitter to emerge in the middle of their lineup.
“Even just talking with him, he's just excited for an opportunity to earn playing time, earn a spot on the team,” Vogt said. “Those are things that he's looking forward to. So I think there's a renewed vigor, and we're excited to see him play and fit in with our group, with our guys.”