On Wednesday, Brian Murphy of MLB.com revealed his 2026 all-non-roster invitee team, a fun exercise in which he looked around the league to evaluate the most potentially impactful players not currently on rosters but with an invitation to camp.
A member of the Cleveland Guardians was on the list, and it was none other than first baseman Rhys Hoskins.
The Guardians signed the 32-year-old slugger on February 22 after a relatively down year with the Brewers in 2025, hitting a disappointing .237/.332/.416 with 12 homers and 43 RBI in 328 plate appearances.
Hoskins, however, has hit 186 home runs in his career and had 83 between 2021 and 2024, missing the entire 2023 campaign with an injury.
He offers impact power for a lineup starving for it.
The fact that he’ll earn $1.5 million if he makes the big-league roster makes him a potential bargain.
“Although Hoskins hasn’t been quite the same offensive force since missing the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL in his left knee, he can still be a plus at the plate when healthy. He bopped 26 homers in 131 games for the 2024 Brewers and recorded 12 homers along with a 108 OPS+ with Milwaukee last year despite missing nearly two months due to a sprained left thumb. The Guardians need that kind of pop after they finished at the bottom of the American League in slugging percentage (.373) and OPS (.669) last season and made no other significant lineup additions,” Murphy wrote.
To think the Guardians won 88 games and the AL Central last year while ranking dead last in slugging percentage among American League teams is unbelievable.
Imagine what this team could achieve if Hoskins returns to 30-homer form and if the projected trio of Steven Kwan, Chase DeLauter, and Jose Ramirez stays healthy and productive.
It would help if other young, promising hitters such as George Valera, Juan Brito, Nolan Jones, or Bo Naylor could establish themselves as above-average offensive contributors.
They all have the talent.
That, plus top prospect Travis Bazzana being close to the majors, could mean good news for Cleveland’s offense.
Better days do seem to be ahead for this struggling unit.
NEXT: Analyst Projects Guardians' 2026 Pitching Rotation
