Hoskins hints his elbow’s feeling stronger every day

PHILADELPHIA » While he may not return before the end of this season, Rhys Hoskins Wednesday did rule out a recently suggested nightmare physical option.

Out of the Phillies’ plans until at least Sept. 23 as he recovers from an elbow injury, Hoskins is confident he will not need the level of Tommy John surgery that would require up to a 15-month recovery.

“It’s not as long as normal elbow surgery and recovery time,” Hoskins said. “I was told it would be a threeto-four-month recovery time, which puts me right at spring training, or before. So I don’t think it would change anything about next year.”

As for the Phillies, they will not rule out this year.

“Is it possible that he could be back before the final four games?” Joe Girardi said. “We hope so. But it’s a matter of the strength in that hand coming back. That’s about it. Will he be able to avoid surgery? I’m not sure. I think time can tell as we go through the next 10 days to two weeks, what the course of action will be. So it’s really up to the healing process.”

That process, Hoskins assures, has been mostly positive.

“It was better today than it was a couple of days ago, so that’s a good sign,” he said. “But right now, the plan is to try to calm it down and try to get some of the strength back, to give it nine or 10 days, when I’d be eligible to come off the injured list.

“I will try to ramp it up a few days before to see if I can swing the bat. If I can, we’ll probably give it a go. If not, then we’ll have to have another conversation about the best plan going forward.”

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J.T. Realmuto, who has not played since Sept. 12, is making progress from a strained hip and quad.

“I just spoke to him and he said he feels better,” Girardi said. “I think he’s getting anxious. But we are at a point where we have to make sure he can’t really do something to make it worse.”

The Phillies are still hoping Realmuto can play by this weekend against visiting Toronto.

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After MRIs Wednesday, Jake Arrieta (hamstring) and Kyle Garlick (oblique) hit the 10-day injured list.

The resulting roster openings allowed Mickey Moniak to graduate to the Phillies for the first time since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft. Also recalled was right-handed relief pitcher Connor Brogdon.

For Reading last season, Moniak hit .256 with 11 home runs. The 22-year-old outfielder has been participating in the Phillies’ satellite camp in Allentown.

“He’s swung the bat extremely well in the short time he has been in the Lehigh Valley,” Girardi said. “I saw him in spring training. There’s a lot of talent there. But I also thought he handled spring training well for such a young player. He wasn’t intimidated. He felt comfortable. Guys loved being around him. I didn’t see nerves with him. So that’s a good sign.”

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NOTES » The Phillies will open the Grapefruit League Feb. 27 against Toronto in Clearwater. … The Phillies Charities have some interesting items up for bid, including a virtual meet-and-greet with Bryce Harper. The auction will continue through Sept. 27 at phillies.com/phantasticauction. … Aaron Nola (5-3, 2.40 ERA) and Mets righty Seth Lugo (2-3, 2.63) will start Thursday at 7:05. … Despite some hope he’d return Wednesday, Jay Bruce remains on the IL with a quad injury. Girardi: “A couple more days, probably, would be my thought.”