"Nothing short of incredible" - Brewers' Rhys Hoskins opens up on emotional Philadelphia return

Rhys Hoskins was a big part of the Philadelphia Phillies until he got injured and was understandably replaced. Once their promising first baseman of the future, Hoskins eventually spent his final contract year injured and was not re-signed. He landed with the Milwaukee Brewers, a team with a trip to Philadelphia already completed.

The Phillies are known for their fanbase. It's one of the most reputable groups in all of sports for creating a difficult atmosphere for opposing players and a welcoming home for their own. When one of them returns as the opposition, they are still great according to Hoskins.

Hoskins said (0:10):

"You're making me emotional first thing to start off. It was nothing short of incredible, really. I'm not surprised, like you said because of that city and that fanbase and the way that they embrace their sports. I was as overwhelmed as you can get."

Rhys Hoskins joked about how hard it is to face Zack Wheeler with clear eyes, noting that he had to wipe tears to face him during his first at-bat. He also spoke about his interaction with JT Realmuto after stealing a base, calling the experience a "lifelong" memory.

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Rhys Hoskins stats from return to Philly

Rhys Hoskins was unable to help his team avoid a sweep at the hands of the red-hot Philadelphia Phillies. By .001 percentage points, they have the best record in baseball over the New York Yankees, and they swept Hoskins' Brewers from June 3-5.

Rhys Hoskins visited Philadelphia recently

Hoskins, perhaps due to the emotional nature of this series, didn't have his best outings of the season. He was 2/9 across the three-game set. He did have a home run in the opener, but the Brewers could only muster two runs in three games. Hoskins also added a walk in the series.

For the season, the veteran first baseman is hitting .232 with 10 home runs. He also has 28 RBIs and a .776 OPS. He's been a solid addition to the Brewers lineup as they have gotten out to an early lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.