The Latest Slugging Phenom

Baseball has been re-energized as Gary Sanchez, Cody Bellinger, and Aaron Judge have joined Giancarlo Stanton as the game's most impressive young sluggers. Now, let's add another name to the conversation.
Rhys Hoskins was promoted to the Phillies earlier this month and has already written his name in the record book: Friday night, he blasted a two-run homer in the 1st inning of the Phils 7-1 win over the Cubs. His 9th home run in 54 big league at-bats -- the fastest ever!
It was also the sixth game day in a row that the rookie had cleared the fences. I was there for one of them. In the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader, Hoskins sent a bullet that bounced off the bushes just beyond the center field fence of Citizens Bank Park.
One of the best reasons to catch minor league games is to get a glimpse of the future. I first saw Hoskins in 2016 with the Phillies' AA club in Reading. A couple of those photos were posted here last December (click to see).
Hoskins will make his first visit to Citi Field on Labor Day -- you bet I'll be there with Canons to get another look the baseball's latest pheenom!

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