Scott Kingery traded after nearly a decade in Phillies organization initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Practically a decade after being drafted within the second spherical and 6½ years after signing probably the most uncommon contract extensions in baseball historical past, Scott Kingery’s time with the Phillies got here to an finish Friday.
Kingery, now 30 years previous, was traded to the Los Angeles Angels for money issues.
The Phillies as soon as had excessive hopes for Kingery as a long-term table-setter and center infielder. Spending 2017 at Double A and Triple A, he hit .304 with an .889 OPS and the Phillies have been impressed sufficient to signal him to a six-year, $24 million extension simply earlier than the subsequent Opening Day.
On the time, Kingery was solely the second participant ever to signal a multi-year contract extension earlier than stepping foot within the majors. Houston’s Jon Singleton, a one-time Phillies prospect traded for Hunter Pence, was the opposite.
Kingery was one of many prime prospects in baseball when the Phillies prolonged him however his success did not translate to the majors. He had some large moments in his first two weeks as a Phillie, driving in 12 runs in 13 video games with seven doubles and two homers, however he hit .219 the remainder of the best way.
His greatest season was 2019 — .258/.315/.474 with 34 doubles and 19 homers in precisely 500 plate appearances — but it surely was all downhill from there. Kingery’s development was in all probability stunted, at the least partially, by having to play so many positions. He did it in school but it surely’s a unique pace. Kingery got here up by way of the minor leagues with the Phillies enjoying largely second base, however within the majors he began 119 video games at shortstop as a rookie, then had double-digit appearances in Yr 2 in middle discipline, left discipline and at third base, shortstop and second base.
It was a ton of on-the-job coaching. With the advantage of hindsight, possibly it was an excessive amount of.
Kingery’s ultimate stint with common enjoying time within the large leagues was the shortened 2020 season. From 2020-22, he hit .144 in 143 plate appearances with the Phils then spent the whole lot of 2023 and 2024 with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Kingery had a great 12 months at Triple A, hitting .268 with 25 homers and .804 OPS.
With the Angels, he’ll have an precise path again to the majors if he performs. They’re as devoid of expertise and depth as any staff in baseball and spent most of 2024 giving enjoying time to reclamation tasks similar to Kingery.
