Hoskins may be ready to hit ground running
Still no timeline on even an optimistic Hoskins return
PHILADELPHIA — In the spirit of the smallest steps beginning the longest journeys, there was Rhys Hoskins Friday doing a little running in the Citizens Bank Park outfield.
Out since spring training with a knee injury and not widely expected to return before whatever it is the Phillies will be challenged to do in October, Hoskins had to begin someplace.
“It wasn’t the first time I’d run, but it was the first time I’d run like that, with that kind of pace,” said Hoskins before the Phillies’ 8-3 loss to the San Diego Padres. “It was definitely a milestone. It was nice to see progress.”
Hoskins has maintained good shape in other ways and walks only with the hint of a limp. But whatever he did Friday did not send Rob Thomson scrambling to edit his lineup card.
“Way too early,” the manager said. “Long way to go.”
Long way to go, but a few strides closer to success.
“It wasn’t quite for speed, just as a way to remind you how to run again,” Hoskins said. “There is always that fine line between pushing and not pushing so hard that it creates an obstacle.”
Hoskins is not ready to declare himself ahead of the original pace for a return.
“It’s hard to say that,” he said. “But I am on the right pace as far as running, so that’s a pretty good indicator, at least right now. So I would say I am on the right pace.”
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Cristian Pache has returned to the injured list, this time with an elbow concern. Earlier, he had served a 17-day hitch with a meniscus tear in his right knee.
“Even before we signed him, for some reason he had a screw in his elbow,” Thomson said. “And it was getting some irritation in there.”
Pache was to see a doctor Friday night, but the Phillies were not waiting for a report before replacing him on the roster with prized prospect Johan Rojas.
Rojas, 22, has been rated as the sixth-best prospect in the organization and had been hitting .306 with nine home runs in 76 games at Class AA Reading. With the Padres starting right-hander Yu
Darvish Friday, Brandon Marsh started in center. Thomson, though, will use Rojas against left-handed pitching.
“I was in Reading with a few friends enjoying a barbeque when I got the call,” Rojas said. “I was so excited, I started jumping. I hugged my brother. My wife and baby (Johan Jr.) were there. It was a special moment for me.”
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The lengthy vigil for Bryce Harper to become a semi-regular first baseman will continue through this weekend, Thomson said after the game. But earlier he added Harper was “really close,” and it’s still possible that new fielding appointment for the DH might come at some point next week.
Largely because defensive liability Kyle Schwarber cannot be trusted to play left in a playoff race and needs to be a designated hitter, the Phillies have been readying Harper to play first, at least occasionally. The issue has been the status of his repaired elbow and how expertly he can execute the finer duties of the position.
“We’re not going to play him there every day,” Thomson said. “We’re going to ease him into this thing. He’s sort of gotten used to the DH role, but a lot of players, when they are playing defense, they get better. They are more engaged in the game. And that may be the case.”