'It's different, right?' After a career spent in Philly, Rhys Hoskins is now a Brewer

PHOENIX – Rhys Hoskins isn't unlike any other player joining the Milwaukee Brewers from another organization.

The first few days are usually the same; trying to learn how to navigate the Phoenix area, becoming familiar with the sprawling complex at American Family Fields of Phoenix and trying to learn all the new names and faces.

For Hoskins, though, there is also the process of trying to become accustomed to wearing new colors.

After spending his entire career with the Philadelphia Phillies, the 30-year-old first baseman is now donning Brewers blue and yellow rather than the bright red he'd been outfitted in since being drafted in 2014 out of Sacramento State.

"I don't know if weird is the right word," Hoskins said. "It's just different, right? I was drafted by them in 2014, so a good 10 years in the same organization, things just become familiar, you create great relationships. Those will be missed and different here.

"But always a fun opportunity to kind of dive into something new. I'm always into meeting new people."

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So far, so good for Hoskins on that front.

He's already earned the nickname "Pee Wee" from manager Pat Murphy (a nod to Brooklyn Dodgers Hall of Famer Pee Wee Reese), gotten some batting practice under his belt and on Saturday morning shared a quick embrace and greeting from the arriving Christian Yelich, whose locker is a couple stalls down on the far wall of the clubhouse.

"Just trying to get as comfortable as possible as quickly as possible," he said. "Everybody in here has been awesome so far. Just super-accommodating and making sure I have everything I need to be able to do the things that I do throughout the day.

"It's been pretty obvious so far, too, that this is a pretty tight-knit group. Guys seem to really enjoy being around each other, and that's also really easy to be a part of, too."

The addition of Hoskins on what will essentially be a one-year, $16 million contract in late January was followed somewhat unexpectedly by the trade of Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles for youngsters DL Hall and Joey Ortiz and a 2024 draft pick.

Hoskins and Burnes share the same agency, the Boras Corporation, and Burnes expressed surprise at being traded shortly after the transaction was completed.

Hoskins, on the other hand, took the news in stride.

"Obviously, anytime you lose a bona fide ace in this game, you're bummed, you're disappointed," he said. "But everybody in the organization was up front. I wasn't surprised that it was happening and aware that things were going on. This is just what this organization has done over the years; it isn't anything new for them, and it's hard to argue with the results they've been able to produce.

"Yeah, a bummer because there's only one Corbin Burnes in the game and he's really, really good. But an opportunity for some of the younger guys to step up, and they've had success with that in the past."

While failing to win the World Series, Philadelphia had some memorable and deep runs in the postseason the past few years. Along the way Hoskins saw enough of the Brewers to have built a respect for them from the other dugout.

"I think as consistent as it gets," he said. "I've heard this word thrown around here a couple times, but just overlooked a little bit. Whether that's because of the market or the payroll isn't the same as some of the other teams around the country. But they continue to find ways to win.

"I've always been impressed at how seemingly every single year there's a couple young guys that come up in this organization and have an impact right away, and obviously in here there's a couple guys that have the opportunity to do that this year.

"I don't know if gritty is the right word. But just a scrappy bunch that knows how to play the game and has done a lot of winning in the last 10 years."

Since breaking into the major leagues in 2017 Hoskins has averaged 36 homers and 98 runs batted in with an .846 OPS, exactly the types of numbers Milwaukee has been seeking to help bolster what was a very inconsistent offense in 2023.

But Hoskins is also coming off a torn ACL in his left knee that he had repaired last March 30, so spring training for him will consist of a slow ramp-up in activity with the goal of being fully ready to go around opening day on March 28 in New York.

"It's been a while since I've played in a game, so getting those, quote, baseball legs underneath you always seems like no matter how hard you work in the offseason, you get here and it's just a little bit different," Hoskins said. "So, we'll take it slow early. But in terms of restrictions, once we get to opening day and real at-bats are had and real pitches are thrown, we should be pretty good to go.

"The last step for me is just doing it at game speed. An exciting place to be, but that's still a step that I've got to accomplish."

Murphy is absolutely on board with the plan of attack for Hoskins.

"I think that's the right thing, right?" he said. "I think all systems are go, but let's be smart about how we do it. There's no rush; we've got 30 games. We want him to play his normal amount, but we've got to be cautious going in. He'll get his 50 plate appearances."

Along with Yelich and catcher William Contreras, Hoskins will receive at-bats as the designated hitter, which will afford him additional days off his feet as well.

"It makes sense to still have them in the lineup and get them off their feet a little bit," Murphy said. "Home games, Hoskins has got to run only, like, 11 feet to first base (from the home dugout, when he's playing the field)."

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers' Rhys Hoskins getting acclimated after years with Phillies