Phillies 2021 Season Player Preview: Scott Kingery

Philadelphia Phillies utility player Scott Kingery entered spring training approximately 10 to 15 pounds lighter. After a disastrous 2020 season — complicated due to him contracting COVID-19 — Kingery is looking to regain more of the form that made him a solid contributor in 2019.

The question is how much playing time will Kingery get, since he isn’t currently locked into a starting role, but rather a utility player role. What can we expect from him this coming season?

Predicting how Scott Kingery will fare in his fourth season with the Phillies

Looking back over his career, Kingery appeared overmatched most of the time during his 2018 rookie campaign. He struck out 126 times and had a paltry .267 on-base percentage and .605 OPS. Defensively, Kingery was mediocre — recording nine errors in 119 games.

The following year, Kingery increased his power and his overall plate effectiveness — hitting .258 with 34 doubles, 19 home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a .788 OPS. He also displayed versatility, playing all three outfield positions as well as second base, shortstop, and third base.

Things went terribly wrong for Kingery last season — as he failed to significantly contribute in any way, shape, or form for most of the season. He struggled to stay in the lineup and hit only .159 with a .511 OPS in 113 at-bats. Kingery also posted a -0.4 defensive WAR and had an overall WAR of -0.7.

I think that 2020 was a “blip on the radar,” but believe Kingery won’t approach the overall power numbers or production of 2019. Much will be determined by the amount of playing time he gets. Possibly Alec Bohm could move from third to first, should the Phillies entertain offers for Rhys Hoskins at the trade deadline. Of course, the Phillies plan on being buyers and not sellers. Should Bohm move, then Segura moves to third and Kingery would see more time at second.

Taking a “stab in the dark,” in 2021, Kingery could reach 350 at-bats, hit 10 to 13 home runs, hit .250, reach double-digits in steals, and play a solid to above-average second base. Kingery is likely somewhere in between his rookie year performance and 2019, which would make him a versatile, do-it-all type player off Joe Girardi‘s bench.