The Guardians have finally secured a right-handed hitter through free agency.
According to Zack Meisel from The Athletic, Rhys Hoskins has joined the Guardians organization and has been assigned a locker. Further details regarding the terms and duration of his contract will be provided as they become available.
Last year, playing for the Brewers, Hoskins recorded a 109 wRC+, though his career wRC+ stands at 121, with an even stronger 137 wRC+ specifically against left-handed pitchers throughout his career. His defensive performance at first base last season marked a personal best.
It is plausible that this move will transition Kyle Manzardo into a more consistent designated hitter role, and the implications for David Fry’s playing time will be noteworthy. My presumption is that Hoskins has been signed to a major league contract. Although some might perceive Hoskins as an average hitter, he possesses the capability to become a significant power threat in the middle of the batting order, addressing a critical need for the Guardians’ offensive lineup, particularly when facing southpaw pitchers.
This development is quite thrilling and serves to improve an offseason that, until today, had been largely underwhelming in terms of bolstering the team’s offensive capabilities.
