After losing Rhys Hoskins for the entire 2023 season due to a torn ACL, the Philadelphia Phillies will be without his replacement for the foreseeable future.
On Friday, The Athletic’s Matt Gelb reported that Darrick Hall would undergo surgery next week after tearing a ligament in his thumb. The Phillies placed Hall on the 15-day injured list, but Gelb writes that the 27-year-old left-handed hitter is looking at missing a few months of the season. The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Scott Lauber reported that Hall expects to return this season, but at one point is currently unknown.
Hall recorded just 19 plate appearances before suffering the injury to his thumb. In those 18 at-bats, he hit .222/.263/.278 with a .541 OPS, four hits and an RBI.
The Phillies recalled Kody Clemens—the son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens—to replace Hall. According to Gelb, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Friday that the 26-year-old Clemens would start at first base against right-handed pitching, while third baseman Alex Bohm could slide across the infield and play at first against left-handed pitching.
The MLB world reacted to the terrible Phillies news, as Philadelphia is already without Hoskins and Bryce Harper, though the latter is nearing a return.
“this season sucks already,” wrote one fan.
“Sadly for Rhys, the future may be now…might need to trade for a true starting first baseman,” said Brian Dubas.
“Cj Cron right now,” wrote another fan, suggesting that the Phillies should make a play for the Colorado Rockies’ first baseman.
“This is a tough one, but I think it will cause Dombrowski to actually make a move. Can’t sit here and watch Kody Clemens and Jake Cave play every game,” said a Phillies fan.
“Sheesh,” wrote Hunter Brody. “Time for Bohm to move across the diamond.”
[Matt Gelb and Scott Lauber on Twitter]
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.