Rhys Hoskins didn't need to be an uber prospect to be difference maker

Rhys Hoskins was never labeled with the uber-prospect status that Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. developed in the minor leagues.

While he was a borderline top-10 prospect in the Phillies organization according to MLB.com the last two seasons and a fifth-round selection in the 2014 MLB Draft, the 25-year-old is quickly earning an even better reputation as one of the best young players in the majors.

After enjoying an incredible 50-game debut last season, Hoskins is off to one of the most productive starts by a Phillie in franchise history.

Entering Friday’s game against Atlanta, Hoskins reached base 49 times in 99 plate appearances, an incredible .495 on-base percentage that ranks top in MLB. Throw in a 1.103 OPS (first in NL), a .336 batting average (fourth in NL) along with four homers and 19 RBIs (third in NL) and Hoskins has been a definition of production.

 “One hundred plate appearances and still near a .500 on-base percentage, it’s relatively unheard of for a young player,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “I don’t know how often it has happened, but it’s pretty impressive.”

The last Phillies to earn a .500 OBP in the first 100 plate appearances to begin a season was Von Hayes in 1987.

In less than a half of season, Hoskins already has posted 22 homers and 67 RBIs in just 74 career games. According to Elias, he’s the first MLB player to hit at least 20 homers and 45 walks in first 250 career at-bats.

Acuna was regarded as the top prospect in the minor leagues before his call up to the big club on Wednesday. He was named the Minor League Player of the Year by USA Today and Baseball America last season and tore up the Grapefruit League in March.

The 20-year-old Venezuelan, who signed as an international free agent in 2014, went 4-for-9 with a homer in his first two games.

Lively lands on DL

Ben Lively was placed on the 10-day disabled list with lower back stiffness and Jake Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday.

Kapler said Lively’s spot in the rotation, which comes up again on Tuesday in Miami, was still TBD.

“We have some options internally, some options at Triple-A and we’ll think those through,” Kapler said. “Everything is still on the table. We’re in the early stages of discussing it. Not prepared to move beyond that.”

Thompson, who began the season in the Phillies' bullpen, started three games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley after his demotion on April 10.

Kapler said Thompson would be in the bullpen.

One of the options at Triple-A would be Enyel De Los Santos, who has been dominating in his first three starts with the Iron Pigs. With a power fastball and improving slider, the 22-year-old right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.98 and 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings.

Lively said he experienced the tightness in his back during Thursday’s outing when he gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings in a loss to Arizona.

“It just hasn’t gotten better,” Lively said on Friday. “No pain really just feels really tight, hopefully it can get better really quick.

“After a couple of pitches, it just started getting tighter and tighter.”

Thompson’s last appearance with the Phillies was one of his best.

He tossed three shutout innings, allowing just one hit, and struck out four en route to his first career save in a game the Phillies won 20-1.

After the game, Thompson was sent down to the minors to make room for Jake Arrieta.

Thompson struggled in his three starts at Lehigh Valley. The right-hander went 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA, surrendering 12 runs on 17 hits over 10 innings. He walked seven and struck out eight.

On the farm

Since the Phillies took Aaron Nola, Friday’s starting pitcher against Atlanta, in the first round of the MLB Draft in 2014, the team has taken hitters with their No. 1 selections over the last three years.

Adam Haseley, last year’s top pick, was hitting .288 with a homer and 12 RBIs in 19 games at Single-A Clearwater in the Florida State League.

Mickey Moniak (2015) and Cornelius Randolph (2016) are scuffling to find their grooves.

Moniak is hitting .213 with 22 strikeouts and two walks in 80 at-bats at Clearwater while Randolph has dipped to .159 with one homer, 20 strikeouts and three walks in 63 at-bats at Double-A Reading.

Seranthony Dominguez was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Friday. He was 1-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 13 innings at Double-A Reading.

Tom McGurk; @McGurkSports; (856) 486-2420; tmcgurk@gannett.com