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

As a playoff contender, much like your favorite order from your local Flanigan's, it would appear that the Miami Marlins are perfectly cooked.

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.

Essentially, Hoskins would be a massive upgrade for the Marlins at the position, even if he is coming off a down season and probably won't even rank among the Top 3 options at his position in free agency. That last bit I suppose could change if he puts on an MVP level show during a Brewers World Series run, but even then, there is a massive gap between him and top of the market options Pete Alonso and Josh Naylor.

But if he coasts to a regular finish? That makes him a perfect Miami Marlins target, as Miami obviously won't be paying those top of the market prices. As long as Hoskins shows he's at least still the same player he was for the rest of 2025, Miami should push an offer sheet in front of him the moment they are able to do so.

So for Marlins fans who are starting to search for other MLB storylines to keep an eye on, now that getting trounced by the Nationals is becoming a regular thing?

The rest of season performance of players like Rhys Hoskins is a good place to start.