The novelty of Rhys Hoskins returning to Citizens Bank Park has worn off. He visited his old home six times with the Milwaukee Brewers the last two seasons.

But Hoskins, who played six seasons with the Phillies – in good times and bad – always draws a crowd when he returns to town.

This time, it’s with the Cleveland Guardians for a weekend series.

“It’s always special,” he said in front of a gaggle of reporters before Friday night’s game. “I have a lot of memories in this ballpark and this city. It’s always fun to relive those a little bit.”

Hoskins, 33, started at first base for Cleveland. He entered the game hitting just .185 with four homers and 18 RBIs in 40 games.

Maybe a return to the park in which he clubbed 80 of his 190 career regular-season homers – and one very memorable postseason homer in the 2022 NLDS against Atlanta — would put a little charge in his bat. With Milwaukee, he hit three homers in six games in Philadelphia the last two seasons.

“It’s a great place to hit,” he said.

During his time in Philadelphia, Hoskins endured a rebuild that culminated with a NL Championship and a trip to the World Series in 2022. He received a nice ovation before Friday night’s game.

“The Northeast is a different beast, especially when it comes to their sports — in the best way,” he said. “It can be hard on us players. But we’d much rather have it be hard than have an indifferent fan base. It’s a beast here. That’s the reality, especially how good this team has played the last few years. It’s always a challenge to come here, but it’s always fun.”

Rob Thomson was a first-year manager when the Phillies went to the World Series in 2022. He was fired in April after this year’s club got off to a 9-19 start. Hoskins said he recently texted Thomson.

“He’s a classy man and I’m super grateful to him for the memories,” Hoskins said.

Hoskins hit .223 with 38 homers, 125 RBIs and a .732 OPS in 221 games with the Brewers in 2024 and 2025. He missed significant time last season with a thumb injury and lingered on the free-agent market over the winter. He eventually signed a one-year deal with Cleveland worth $1.5 million.

Asked if he believed there was a chance of coming back to the Phillies over the winter, Hoskins was blunt: “No,” he said. The Phillies have a first baseman in Bryce Harper and a designated hitter in Kyle Schwarber.

Down the road, Hoskins wouldn’t mind coming back to the team that drafted and developed him if the chance ever arises.

“I’m human,” he said. “I know the desires and the thoughts I had when I was a player here, a young player here, about playing with one team my whole career. Getting a chance to end a career here would be pretty special, too. I’ll never close that door. It’ll shake out the way it’s supposed to.”