The Philadelphia Phillies have officially begun their offseason activities, but with little fanfare compared to headline-grabbing blockbusters. Their first move is a poignant reminder of how quickly the baseball landscape shifts. On Friday afternoon, the Phillies quietly traded Scott Kingery, once heralded as the franchise’s future star, to the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations.
A Long-Awaited Turnaround
Kingery’s 2024 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate, was marked by an impressive resurgence. After years of struggles, the 30-year-old utility player found his stride, batting .268 with an .804 OPS, accompanied by 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases. Despite his performance, Kingery remained on the outside of the Phillies’ 40-man roster—a stark reminder of his fall from grace after once being a beacon of hope for the club.
The move to the Angels marks the end of Kingery’s journey with the Phillies, a tale filled with early promise, setbacks, and moments of rediscovery.
The Rise That Promised So Much
Kingery’s journey began in 2015 when the Phillies selected him in the second round of the MLB Draft. He rapidly ascended through the ranks, hitting a peak in 2017 that foreshadowed stardom. That season, he split time between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, posting a .304 average with an .889 OPS, 26 home runs, and 29 stolen bases. Dubbed “Scotty Jetpacks” for his blazing speed and dynamic play, Kingery’s profile exploded, earning him the No. 35 spot on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list.
The Phillies’ belief in Kingery was so strong that, before he played a single major league game, they signed him to a six-year, $24 million contract in March 2018. It was a bold move intended to secure his services during his peak years and avoid future arbitration.
Unfulfilled Potential
Unfortunately, the early bet did not pay off as hoped. Kingery debuted in the majors in 2018, showing flashes of potential but failing to live up to the lofty expectations. He played 147 games that year but managed only a .226/.267/.338 slash line, with eight home runs and 10 stolen bases. His sophomore season in 2019 hinted at improvement; he hit .258 with 19 home runs and 15 steals over 126 games. But inconsistencies and injuries kept him from making the leap to the next level.
The 2020 season, disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, was especially unkind to Kingery. He played only 36 games, slumping to a .159 batting average, and his struggles continued into the following seasons. By 2021, his appearances dwindled to just 15 games, and in 2022, he was effectively an afterthought, appearing in only one game.
A Career Relegated to “What Could Have Been”
Kingery’s inability to reclaim his place on the Phillies’ major league roster led to the team declining his $13 million option last offseason. Although this seemed like the end of his time with Philadelphia, he remained with the organization on a minor league deal. The 2024 season brought glimpses of the old Kingery, but it wasn’t enough to warrant a call-up in the midst of the Phillies’ competitive playoff run.
In his time with the Phillies, Kingery posted a career .229/.280/.387 slash line, with 30 home runs and 25 stolen bases over 325 games. These numbers fall far short of the expectations set by his early promise and the substantial contract that followed.
A New Beginning with the Angels
By acquiring Kingery, the Angels are betting on the possibility that a change of scenery and continued development can reignite his career. At 30, Kingery may still have untapped potential, especially after his recent Triple-A bounceback. For the Phillies, moving on from Kingery represents closing a chapter—one that began with high hopes and concluded with a sobering lesson about the unpredictability of prospect development.
This trade may not dominate offseason headlines, but it serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of baseball careers. The Phillies move forward, wiser from the experience, while Kingery embarks on a new chapter with the Angels, carrying the hope that “Scotty Jetpacks” can find the runway he once seemed destined to soar from.
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