As the World Series rolls into New York, all the rest of the league can do is wait for the Fall Classic to wrap up for the offseason to officially get underway. In the meantime, it’s time to start ramping up the MLB awards season.
The first batch of annual awards came out last week from the MLB Players Association. The Players Choice Awards are voted on by players each September and are the first awards handed out in the fall. Former Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins, now with the Milwaukee Brewers, was a finalist in and won two separate categories in this year‘s Players Choice Awards.
When Hoskins was effectively forced into free agency after Bryce Harper‘s move to first base last year, the Phillies lost more than a fan-favorite slugger and one of the longest-tenured members of the team. The Phillies also lost a huge part of the Philadelphia community and a wonderful human being.
Hoskins was named the MLBPA’s 2024 Marvin Miller Man of the Year as a player whose leadership inspires others to higher levels of achievement.
He also won the Players Trust Philanthropist of the Year Award, for his community work, altruistic spirit and positive social impact.
“After six seasons as a lineup and clubhouse pillar, community ambassador and fan favorite in Philadelphia, Rhys Hoskins made an immediate impact on and off the field in his new home in Milwaukee,” per the MLBPA’s press release. “He assumed the role of Brewers’ player representative and immersed himself in the community with his wife, Jayme, through their involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.”
For winning the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, the Players Trust will donate $25,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Association in the Hoskins’ name.
“During Rhys’ playing career in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, he and his wife, Jayme, have raised over $1 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association,” per the MLBPA. “This year, they hosted 100 families at a Brewers game and remained active in MDA summer camps and promoting awareness of the disease through public service announcements, social media campaigns and other events.”
In a video posted on the MLBPA website, Hoskins explains why he and Jayme support the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
“There is not a cure for these neuromuscular diseases, and that’s a big reason why we’ve continued to support throughout our time in the major leagues,” Hoskins said. “I have to give a huge shout-out to everybody involved at the Players Trust that you know we now have an opportunity to give a grant to Muscular Dystrophy Association to hopefully continuing research, funding for camps.”
Hoskins spent six seasons slugging home runs for the Phillies while making an impact as a leader in the clubhouse and an advocate in the community. He and Jayme were ambassadors for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during their time in Philadelphia, hosting the Go Yard event, which raised valuable funds, awareness and hope for Philadelphia-area families living with muscle disease.