Miami Marlins fans should keep an eye on Rhys Hoskins as season winds down

"Which means it's time to start paying somewhat closer attention to the actual playoff contenders, and figuring out which parts of those winning formulas might become available once the offseason gets underway. As you might have noticed during the Marlins recent offensive slide, and really at any point during the 2025 season, there are plenty of holes in this roster. Fortunately, there has also been plenty to like, which means it's reasonable to expect Miami's front office to have made more additions than subtractions when the dust settles this winter."

"Enter Rhys Hoskins of the Milwaukee Brewers. Hoskins made his first appearance since early July on Tuesday night, coming up empty in a pinch hit opportunity. He had missed the past 57-games with a sprained left thumb, but is now back with the Brewers for their playoff push. He's only played in 83 games in 2025, yet has still managed to produce a 1.1 WAR in that time. It's a number that's not really all that remarkable...until you stack it against Eric Wagaman's -0.8 WAR tally over nearly twice the number of at bats."

"First base has been a problem all season for Miami, even allowing for the fact that Wagaman has been one of Miami's best hitters over the past month. I should probably also do Wagaman the courtesy of pointing that his .238 BA this season matches up exactly with Hoskins' career line. However, that is where the similarities end. Hoskins boasts a career OBP of .345, whereas Wagaman comes in at a tear inducing .287 mark. Both hitters have been right around their career tallies in 2025. If you go by defensive WAR, Hoskins enjoys a massive adavantage. If you prefer Outs Above Average, Hoskins still narrowly comes out ahead. Yet you get a much more impactful bat in the lineup, one with 25 to 30 HR upside to go along with a respectable on base percentage."

The Miami Marlins are playoff contenders with clear roster holes that make offseason additions likely. Front office moves are expected to favor acquisitions to plug weaknesses rather than major subtractions. Rhys Hoskins returned from a thumb sprain and produced 1.1 WAR in 83 games for Milwaukee in 2025. Eric Wagaman has a -0.8 WAR across nearly twice the at bats despite matching Hoskins' .238 batting average. Hoskins posts a .345 career OBP versus Wagaman's .287, shows better defensive metrics, and offers 25–30 home run upside with a respectable on-base profile.

Read at Marlin Maniac