The Cleveland Guardians are always on the lookout for cheap power, no matter when you read this.
So, when they signed slugger Rhys Hoskins to a minor league deal just a few days ago, they were overjoyed.
They did well to find a guy who hasn’t had a single below-average offensive season on a ‘prove-it’ deal with virtually no downside.
After taking a few days to get up to speed in camp, Hoskins’ spring debut date has been revealed by manager Stephen Vogt.
“Guardians manager Stephen Vogt says that new signee Rhys Hoskins is slotted to DH in tomorrow’s game against the Cubs,” Mason Horodyski wrote on X.
#Guardians manager Stephen Vogt says that new signee Rhys Hoskins is slotted to DH in tomorrow’s game against the Cubs #GuardsBall x @WEWS pic.twitter.com/QPNGvWchcn
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) February 26, 2026
There are some concerns about Hoskins’ upside given the fact that he missed most of the second half while dealing with a sprained thumb.
However, there haven’t been reports of the injury still affecting him, and he is good to go to make his spring debut against the Cubs on Friday.
The veteran thumper will probably split time between the DH slot and first base this year, and offers things that the team lacks: power hitting and the ability to consistently produce against left-handers.
Even though he was actually better against righties last year, Hoskins boasts an excellent 137 career wRC+ while facing southpaws, much better than his 115 mark against right-handers.
At this point in his career, Hoskins is closer to a league-average hitter than a consistent offensive star, but his floor is high, and the Guardians will take it.
This is a guy who has quietly hit 186 home runs before turning 33, and Cleveland is banking on a few more as he slowly exits his prime.
Hoskins’ path to consistent playing time, provided he makes the team, will come mostly at the cold corner, allowing Kyle Manzardo to be the DH most nights.
Neither player is a particularly good defender at first base, though Hoskins fared better last year.
If Hoskins and Manzardo are in the lineup for most games, it means that David Fry will have to fight harder for at-bats and playing time.
In the end, whoever hits will get his fair share of trips to the plate, and the Guardians are confident Hoskins will eventually become an offensive asset.
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