Rhys Hoskins will miss the 2023 season after suffering a torn ACL while attempting to field a ground ball in a spring training game Thursday. On Friday, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team is comfortable with Darick Hall taking over as the regular starting first baseman.
Hall made his MLB debut last season after five years in the minor leagues. The then-26-year-old rookie played in 41 games, batting .250 with nine home runs and an OPS of .804.
In the minor leagues, Hall hit 126 home runs with an OPS of .816. Before his major league promotion in 2022, he was among the International League leaders in home runs with 28.
Despite his success at the major league level as a rookie, Hall had only one hit in just 12 at-bats against left-handed pitchers, with seven strikeouts. To become a solid contributor at the big league level, he must improve against lefties.
If he doesn’t, the Phillies could move third baseman Alec Bohm to first against left-handers. Bohm has made 24 appearances at first base in his three-year career. Utility infielder Edmundo Sosa could fill in at third base if Bohm gets time at first.
Kody Clemens, whom the Phillies acquired from the Detroit Tigers in the offseason, played 13 games at first base for the Tigers in 2022. Hoskins’ injury could give Clemens the inside track at cracking the Opening Day roster.
It is possible the Phillies look outside the organization for first base depth.
Miguel Sano, who made the American League All-Star team in 2017 and hit 30 home runs in 2021, is still a free agent.
For now, though, it seems Dombrowski and the Phillies are comfortable giving Hall an opportunity to prove himself.
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