BALTIMORE — Rhys Hoskins has heard the theory that participating in the Home Run Derby can mess up a hitter’s swing.
Sorry, but the Phillies’ slugger doesn’t buy it.
“I don’t think it’s going to be an issue at all,” Hoskins said Thursday. “I get it for some people, I guess, but I don’t think that there will be any changes in my swing to do the derby. That’s not going to be an issue for me.”
Although Hoskins wasn’t named to the National League All-Star team, he was tabbed to swing for the fences Monday night in Washington.
The notion of the derby as a detriment began with former Phillies outfielder Bobby Abreu. In 2005 he hit 18 homers in 397 plate appearances before participating in – and winning – the Home Run Derby, then hit only six homers in 322 plate appearances for the rest of the season.
When New York Mets third baseman David Wright had a similar power outage after finishing as the derby runner-up to Ryan Howard in 2006, a theory arose that he and Abreu altered their swing mechanics for the contest and fell into bad habits.
“I think it’s a story that the baseball world tells itself,” Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler said, citing Howard’s apparent immunity to the derby jinx in 2006, 2007, and 2009. “As many cases as you can find on the side of a guy’s swing not being perfect after the Home Run Derby, you can find guys excelling.”
ANGELS: Right-hander Garrett Richards said he has elected to undergo Tommy John surgery for the damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and will miss the remainder of the season.
Reduced to 28 starts over the last three seasons because of multiple injuries, including two UCL issues, Richards’ time with the Angels could effectively be finished after eight seasons and a 45-38 record with a 3.54 ERA. The free-agent-to-be expects to be ready to pitch at the start of the 2020 season.
Richards, 30, was 5-4 with a 3.66 ERA over 16 starts this season. He was removed in the third inning Tuesday during his outing against the Mariners. He went on the disabled list Wednesday and was given the choice of a conservative rehabilitation or surgery.
TWINS: The team placed designated hitter/first baseman Logan Morrison on the 10-day disabled list with a left hip injury and reinstated utility infielder Ehire Adrianza from the DL.
Morrison is batting just .193 in his first season with the Twins, with 11 home runs and 31 RBI in 264 at-bats. He described his problem as chronic and said before the game he’s planning to return when he’s eligible July 22.
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