Philadelphia Phillies' Rhys Hoskins Carted Off Field with Leg Injury

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins was carted off the field Thursday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida in a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers, with what appeared to be a left knee injury.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins was carted off the field Thursday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida in a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers, with what appeared to be a left knee injury.

The injury occurred as Hoskins was fielding a ground ball to first base. As he gathered to collect the ground ball, Hoskins took an awkward tumble, and began rolling around in pain while grabbing his left knee.

Losing Hoskins for any amount of time would be a significant blow to the Phillies, as the club will already be without superstar outfielder Bryce Harper for at least the first couple months of the season.

Hoskins slashed .246/.332/.794 with 30 home runs and 79 RBI in 156 games last season. Hoskins helped the Phillies reach the World Series for the first time since 2009. The Phillies led the World Series 2-1, but would go on to lose to the Houston Astros in six games.

The Phillies appear to be an even better team on paper than they were a season ago. This winter, executive Dave Dombrowski added Trea Turner, Taijuan Walker, Gregory Soto, Matt Strahm and Craig Kimbrel to his roster. The additions of Walker, Strahm, Soto and Kimbrel should beef up the club's pitching rotation and bullpen. Turner is a star, evidenced by the 11-year, $300 million deal he collected from the Phillies as a free agent last winter.

With Hoskins out, Alec Bohm could slide over from third base to first base, which would create an opening at the hot corner. The Phillies could use infielders Edmundo Sosa, Bryson Stott, Josh Harrison, Kody Clemens and Scott Kingery to play second and third base, with Turner manning shortstop. That is, unless Dombrowski opts to add a corner infielder to the roster.

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