Rhys Hoskins didn’t have a hunch when Dave Dombrowski called him last November. Both the Philadelphia Phillies
and their homegrown first baseman had talked for months about their mutual admiration. This was left unspoken:
Everyone knew it would be difficult to extend the relationship. The path that led Dombrowski to call Hoskins and tell him
the Phillies wouldn’t re-sign him started well before Bryce Harper made a full-time move to first base. Maybe the seeds
were planted in March 2022 when the Phillies signed Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos to multiyear deals.
Every offseason sees plenty of player movement between teams. It’s the business of modern baseball, and it’s not going to change anytime soon.
Even though the Philadelphia Phillies, with a roster full of veteran stars and
established role players, had minimal moves to make this winter, the offseason brought change. New faces came to town
while we said goodbye to others. From players who had been with the Phillies for a long time to those who had just a
brief stay in the City of Brotherly Love, former Phillies are scattered all around the majors.
So let’s take a trip down memory lane and around the league to check
So let’s take a trip down memory lane and around the league to check in on players who played for the Phils last season.
We’ll start with an honorable mention to Oliver Dunn. It’s okay if you’re unfamiliar with that name. He didn’t actually play for the Phillies last year.
The third baseman spent 2023 in Double-A Reading but, after being traded in the offseason, made his MLB debut with the
Milwaukee Brewers earlier this month. The 26-year-old has managed to stick with the big league club, playing in 25
games. In 69 plate appearances, he’s hitting .231 with a .598 OPS, one home run, five RBI and a pair of stolen bases.
