Rhys Hoskins believes his trip to DL will be brief

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SAN FRANCISCO — After spending Thursday in Philadelphia having his broken jaw examined by Phillies doctors, Rhys Hoskins was back with the team here Friday. The swelling on the side of his face was noticeably down. He was able to take batting practice in the indoor cage.

Hoskins believes his stint on the disabled list could be brief.

Manager Gabe Kapler shares that belief.

“I don’t see it being long before he’s back,” Kapler said before Friday night’s game against the Giants. “I don’t want to be overly optimistic because I don’t have a lot of exposure to jaw fractures, but my instincts tell me it’s not going to be too long before Rhys is back in a Phillies uniform for us.”

Hoskins will be eligible to return from the DL on June 9. A follow-up appointment with an oral surgeon in Philadelphia next week will help determine if that will happen.

“I think if all goes well with the follow-up, hopefully it’s just waiting out the DL time at that point,” Hoskins said. “In my mind, I could play today, but I get it — this is a long-term thing."

Hoskins said he has a small “hairline” fracture in the jaw. He suffered the injury when he fouled a 95-mph fastball off his face in Monday night’s game at Los Angeles. He went through a series of tests, including neurological tests, after the game and the next day and was cleared to play Tuesday by doctors in Los Angeles. He actually smacked a pinch-hit double in that game. The next morning, as part of the continuing evaluation, he had a CT scan and it revealed the fracture. He was placed on the disabled and further tests in Philadelphia determined that surgery was not needed.

“Obviously you don’t ever want to go on the DL, but for the situation at hand, we got the best news possible — no surgery,” Hoskins said. “Just a little of soft food and some time. The swelling is already going down. That’s a sign that the healing has already begun.”

Hoskins will wear some type of a mouth/jaw shield when he returns.

Dylan Cozens was called up from Triple A to take Hoskins’ roster spot. He was in right field for his first big-league start Friday night.

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