ALLENTOWN – It rained most of the day in the Lehigh Valley Monday, so Dusty Wathan, manager of the Phillies’ triple-A IronPigs affiliate, gave Rhys Hoskins the option of delaying an outfield experiment designed to get him to the big leagues as soon as possible.
“I talked to Rhys and we talked about pushing it off one more day because we couldn’t get on the field (before the game) because of the rain,” Wathan said.
Hoskins’ response was predictable.
“No, I’m comfortable with (playing),” the 24-year-old slugger told his manager.
And so began Hoskins’ professional career in left field, the place where so many other first basemen have gone before in an attempt to find a place in the big leagues.