Reflecting on Rhys Hoskins’ time in Milwaukee after Brewers decline option

Rhys Hoskins' time in Milwaukee is officially over after the Brewers declined his $18 million club option for the 2026 season.

In truth, that was a mere formality after Hoskins injured his thumb and lost playing time down the stretch to Andrew Vaughn. He didn't even make the team's postseason roster, and he'll receive a $4 buyout after the unceremonious end to his Brewers tenure.

However, it wasn't all bad for Hoskins, who had inspiring moments throughout the life of his two-year, $34 million contract (which was always a gamble after he missed the 2023 season with a torn ACL). Though he didn't quite live up to expectations, calling his tenure an outright failure is absolutely an unfair judgement.

Rhys Hoskins' Brewers tenure had it's fair share of both ups and downs

In total, Hoskins played 221 games with the Brewers and hit .223/.314/.418 with a 103 wRC+. He battled frustrating strikeout issues and prolonged slumps, but he also hit 38 home runs in 728 at-bats.

He was especially important as the Brewers struggled to stay afloat in the early part of the 2025 season. He hit .282/.404/.412 (134 wRC+) during a 16-15 start to the campaign, and he followed that up with six home runs and a 138 wRC+ during a 15-13 May.

Hoskins mostly struggled for the remainder of the year when healthy, and it's somewhat of an indictment upon him that the Brewers only really got hot once Vaughn took over for him at first base on a full-time basis. As the team's second-highest paid player, getting outplayed by a Chicago White Sox throwaway should never have happened.

Of course, Hoskins was a more regular presence in the lineup in 2024, and though his production was generally solid (he produced a 120 wRC+ or higher in three out of six months during the regular season), he battled severe strikeout issues that only got worse as the year progressed. He was, at times, more frustrating to watch than any other player on the roster.

On a team like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Hoskins' production would have sufficed at his price point. For the cash-conscious Brewers, though, a middling defensive first baseman who couldn't stay healthy simply wasn't what the doctor ordered. His power was necessary to the lineup, but everything else in his profile was painful.

Ultimately, I'd say Hoskins goes down as a swing and a miss for the front office. He went hitless during the Wild Card Round series against the New York Mets last year and couldn't even make the October roster this time around. Hopefully, the money the Brewers are saving on his option can be reinvested in a more meaningful addition.