Clearwater Chronicles: Rhys Hoskins Hurting, Andrew McCutchen to Lead Off

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Lots of newsy notes from Phillies camp this morning.

Let's get to it:

• Rhys Hoskins has a sore left shoulder. Manager Gabe Kapler said it was nothing serious. Hoskins was not in the lineup Wednesday. He is expected to play over the weekend and be ready for opening day. An MRI revealed no structural damage in Hoskins' shoulder.

• Kapler revealed that Andrew McCutchen will open the season as the team's leadoff man. Cesar Hernandez will likely hit sixth or seventh, Kapler said.

McCutchen has 1,282 plate appearances as a leadoff man in his career. His on-base percentage in that spot is .367. McCutchen has hit most in the No. 3 spot -- 3,861 plate appearances.

• The Phillies do not have a pure backup first baseman for Hoskins. In the event he needed relief, Maikel Franco would move over from third base and Scott Kingery would fill that spot. Franco will get some reps at first base Friday night against the Yankees in Tampa.

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