Sep 3, 2019; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Scott Kingery (4) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Scott Kingery's wild ride with the Philadelphia Phillies is over. The Phils traded him to the Angels on Friday for cash considerations.
Welcome home Cash. https://t.co/yCeuT50lTr pic.twitter.com/stcP2cBs8d
The Phillies selected Kingery in the second round of the 2015 amateur draft, out of the University of Arizona. In 2017, "Scotty Jetpax" hit .304/.359/.530 (.889 OPS) between AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley, with 26 home runs and 29 stolen bases. MLB.com ranked him as the 35th-best prospect in baseball.
He looked like a future superstar. The Phillies certainly thought so, at least. The club signed Kingery to a six-year, $24-million contract in March, 2018, making him just the second player in baseball history to sign a multi-year contract before playing a major league game. (Houston's Jon Singleton, who was part of the Phils/Astros Hunter Pence trade, was the first.)
The deal even included club options that could have kept Kingery with the Phillies through 2026 for a $65 million total payout.
Scott Kingery used to write letters to college coaches trying to get them interested in him. Today he signs $24m contract w Philllies. pic.twitter.com/hvJF0HPXt9
"This, from an organizational perspective, is the best success story we could have," said then-GM Matt Klentak at the time. "A guy that was drafted by the Phillies, developed through our system and achieves a moment like this through hard work and grit and determination. It is exactly what you want as an organization."
"He's the kind of guy you make an investment in," said then-manager Gabe Kapler. "He's the kind of character you make an investment in. He's the kind of all-around athlete that you make an investment in."
Sometimes investments just don't work out.
Kingery played 147 games for the major league club in 2018, hitting .226/.267/.339 (.605 OPS) with eight home runs and ten stolen bases. He played every defensive position other than catcher and first baseman that season, even pitching in mop-up duty. Many fans believe Kingery's undefined role harmed his development as a major leaguer, but his versatility was partly responsible for the early contract.
"I think it starts with getting guys blows to keep them healthy and strong. We'll do that with guys all over the diamond," said Klentak in '18 when asked how Kingery would fit the Phils' roster. "Then Scott gets his reps at positions all over the place. At the end of the day, these guys are all going to look up and be like, 'Holy smokes. I played every day, somehow, some way."
With the benefit of hindsight, maybe not the best plan.
In 325 career major league games with the Phils, Kingery hit .229/.280/.387 (.667 OPS). His last at-bats with the major league club came in 2021, when he hit .053 in 15 games.
Kingery, now 30, did excel in AAA last season, posting an .804 OPS and hitting 25 home runs in just 125 games. He also stole 25 bases.
Not a surprise!
Congrats to Scott Kingery for being named 2024 Hitter of the Year 👏 pic.twitter.com/l1HYBH7Jhc
With the Angels, Kingery will have a path back to the majors that no longer existed in Philadelphia.
