Phillies: Scott Kingery crushes Eastern League, deserving promotion
Phillies second-base prospect Scott Kingery is crushing Eastern League pitching and deserves a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
While the Phillies have played themselves into the basement in the NL East and the worst record in the major leagues, there are some players turning heads down on the farm. Perhaps most noteworthy is the play of Reading second baseman Scott Kingery, who has dominated Eastern League pitching.
Kingery hit .250 for Lakewood as a 21-year old in 2015 with three home runs, 21 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. His numbers increased a year ago, splitting time at Clearwater and Reading, batting .281 with 5 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
Certainly improved from 2015, it’s unlikely anyone in the organization could imagine the kind of numbers Scott Kingery is posting this season in Reading. At only 5′ 10″ and 180 pounds, Kingery is putting on a power hitting barrage unheard of for a man his size.
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In 49 games, Kingery is batting .323 with 17 home runs, 32 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 198 at-bats. His slugging percentage is an astronomical .682 and his OPS is at 1.084. After hitting just eight home runs in 883 at-bats during his first two professional seasons, Kingery has more than opened some eyes.
One must now wonder, when, and not if, Kingery will get promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Looking at the Iron Pigs roster, there has been little production from the middle infield. Highly touted shortstop J.P Crawford is hitting an anemic .200 with 37 strikeouts in 48 games, while second baseman Jesmuel Valentin was hitting .229 with just a single long ball in 96 at-bats before suffering a separated shoulder that cost him the rest of the season.
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Kingery, a 23-year old, was drafted by the Phillies in 2015 following three seasons at the University of Arizona. Although not having had a great deal of Minor League experience, the poor production from the infield, injury to Valentin, coupled with Kingery’s stellar play, should justify a promotion to the Iron Pigs.
One possible reason the Phillies wouldn’t move Kingery is that they want to see if this hot start is not a fluke, considering Kingery has never shown this kind of offensive production at any level. They may want to see what he puts up in a full season or nearly a full season at Double-A Reading.
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Cesar Hernandez has a hold on the second base position for the major-league team, but don’t be surprised to see Kingery being called up late in the season. Getting a shot at the Major Leagues after so little time in the Minors would be a great story for Kingery, the once college walk-on. Stay tuned to this developing situation as the summer unfolds.