CLEARWATER, Fla. — Rhys Hoskins stood in left field and waited. It was early in the morning, more than an hour before he was required to be at the ballpark. The stands were empty. The sound system was muted. It was just Hoskins, the player the Phillies hope can be a franchise cornerstone, with a coach.
That coach, outfield coordinator Andy Abad, stood 20 feet away as Hoskins waited. Abad rolled a baseball and Hoskins charged, scooped it with his glove and mimed a throw to the infield. Abad instructed and rolled another ball. And again. And again.