When the Milwaukee Brewers announced their 26-man roster for the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs, one name stood out by its absence: Rhys Hoskins. Despite being a high-profile, high-salary slugger, Hoskins will not be among the Brewers’ postseason hitters in the Division Series.
Hoskins had signed a hefty deal (roughly $34 million over two years) to be a power presence at first base, a bat the Brewers believed could help them in October. But by late September, roster trends and usage patterns suggested his path to the postseason would be narrow, and that’s exactly what the Brewers’ management decided.
The decision is especially notable given Hoskins’s postseason track record: he has 83 postseason plate appearances (tied with Christian Yelich for most on the Brewers) and has hit six home runs across 17 playoff games in his career. Yet his postseason OPS (around .577) and limited recent usage likely worked against him.
“In terms of the roster, we put in a lot of hours talking about it and I think in some cases we can justify a lot of different permutations of that roster,” Brewers GM Matt Arnold said.
Why the Brewers Passed on Hoskins
At first glance, omitting a veteran slugger with playoff experience seems risky, especially when you’ve invested heavily in him. But the reasons the Brewers gave, and the logic behind them, start to make more sense under scrutiny.
One factor is positional flexibility. The Brewers were juggling multiple first base candidates (Andrew Vaughn, Jake Bauers, Hoskins) during the second half. Carrying all three would limit their bench and strategic options. Vaughn, in particular, had begun to emerge as a more consistent contributor and was carving a role the team appeared willing to lean into.
“The Rhys one is very difficult because he has playoff experience,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s been a leader of this team. It’s been a tough decision. I felt like the need for Lockridge specifically because of his ability to run, steal a base and his ability to play great defense in the outfield can’t be denied.”
Additionally, Hoskins’s playing time had already been curtailed by injury. He suffered a left thumb sprain (and possibly a bone bruise) in early July, causing a lengthy absence. When he returned, his role was limited, and defensive metrics and batting stagnancy likely diminished his case.
Another consideration: the Brewers valued bench versatility and positional interchangeability. The extra roster slot was used instead to add an outfielder, Brandon Lockridge, who provides speed, defense, and pinch-running value. That move highlights the team’s preference for adaptable pieces over a power bat that may only contribute in limited matchups.
Finally, the financial dimension looms. Hoskins’s contract was sizable, and failing to include him in the postseason roster may raise questions about return on investment. Some analysts have even pegged his contract among the worst for the Brewers given his limited availability and diminished impact.
What This Means for October
Not having Hoskins play also increases the margin for error. Without a trusted veteran bat in the corners, Milwaukee’s lineup has less redundancy. Against a pitcher they don’t like or in a short series where one cold stretch is fatal, the absence of Hoskins might sting.
For Hoskins himself, the exclusion is perhaps the most abrupt kind of rebuke. If he remains on the open market in free agency, he enters it with no October exposure and questions about durability and role. Some pundits have already predicted the Brewers will decline his mutual option or walk away from his contract after the season.
Internally, the decision could have clubhouse ramifications. A player excluded from playoff rosters can feel slighted, and managing morale for those watching from the bench will be part of the manager’s job.
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