Reading's Hoskins says mom's memory plays major role in career

THE GAME LOG indicates that Rhys Hoskins homered on May 8. It was a solo shot in a Fightin Phils' loss to Portland that was seemingly just a routine moment in a minor league game that not a lot of people will ever think of again.

But for Hoskins, an emerging power-hitter at Double A Reading, May 8 was special because it was Mother's Day. While most young men his age send text messages or maybe even flowers to their mothers, he can only send thoughts.

"Spent Mother's Day the only way I know how!," he tweeted after the game. "Loved getting to wear some pink. Always in my thoughts Mom."

Cathy Reynolds, Hoskins' mom, died on March 12, 2009 of breast cancer. It was five days before Hoskins turned 16 and it is an experience that has shaped his life.

"No one ever pictures losing your mom as a teenager," said Hoskins, a first baseman. "We used to always joke that she would be my manager or my agent when I made it."

Hoskins entered Monday night's game at Richmond with 22 home runs, good for second in all of minor league baseball behind only teammate Dylan Cozens' 23.

Hoskins did not go deep on May 18 when an 0-for-2 night capped a 5-for-22 skid that dropped his batting average to .243. Nor did he seem to care.

"Cherish the life you have and all the special people you have in it," he instructed his followers after that game. "May 18th is always a great reminder of that. Happy Birthday Mom."

Hoskins then went 8-for-15 over his next four games. He entered Monday hitting .286 for the Fightins, who were leading the Eastern League's East Division with a blistering 60-23 record - best in all of baseball.

Hoskins, picked by the Phillies out of Sacramento State in the fifth round in 2014, is one of six Reading players selected to play in the Eastern League All-Star Game in Akron, Ohio, on July 13, after playing in the South Atlantic League equivalent last year.

"People forget that about this time last year he was in (low-A) Lakewood. This is just his second full season (of pro baseball)," said Reading manager Dusty Wathan.

Wathan is impressed with the way Hoskins has been able to wipe away a 2-for-22 start to the season and that 5-for-22 dip in May.

"If you look back at guys that have had success in the major leagues, a lot of them weren't here (at Double A) this quick," the manager said. "He's opened up a lot of eyes. He's a tremendous hitter."

Home run totals can be deceptive in Reading, a park where the breeze often is blowing out. Of Hoskins' 22 home runs, 15 have been at FirstEnergy Stadium (68 percent). As a team, the Fightins have hit 74 of their 109 bombs at home (also 68 percent).

"He hit 17 home runs last year, so it's not like the power wasn't there," Wathan countered. "He's hit some home runs in some good sized ballparks. He's hit for average. I think the biggest thing about him is that he's been able to drive the ball to right-centerfield when he's going good."

Hoskins is in the top 10 among all Phillies farm system players in most offensive categories after leading the organization last year in batting average, runs, hits, doubles, home runs and RBI. That's when Charlie Manuel took notice.

"He's got some determination to him when he's got men on base," said Manuel, who works as an adviser to general manager Matt Klentak. "He picks up a lot of ribbies going the other way. If you want to be a good hitter, you learn to do that."

Home runs, slumps, cross-eyed umpires all are important to Rhys Hoskins - but up to a point.

He's hit three walk-off homers this season, including a grand slam. But it was that home run on May 8 that was most meaningful to him.

"I think the biggest thing I learned going through that adversity and watching her suffer the way she did was that she always kept a light-hearted mood with everyone she was around," said Hoskins, who is very close with his father Paul, sister Meloria and high-school sweetheart Jamie Bermudez.

"Mom's perseverance to live was really infectious," Hoskins continued. "That is something that I will always carry with me."

@EdBarkowitz