Scott Kingery continues to outperform Bryson Stott and several other players on the Phillies’ 40-man roster while the organization continues to ignore him

Scott Kingery is hitting .274 with 22 home runs, 58 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in Lehigh Valley this season. He has a .844 OPS with 97 hits (39 XBH) and 63 runs scored in 354 at-bats. 

Kingery has a .266 batting average with 76 home runs and 278 RBI to go along with a .764 OPS in nearly 2500 at-bats at the minor league level. In the majors, he’s posted a .229 batting average with a .667 OPS – including 30 home runs, 25 stolen bases, and 96 RBI in over 1,000 at-bats with the Phillies. 

Kingery can play every position in the outfield and infield and still has NEVER been given the opportunity to play his natural position at second base. 

He was also a product of a ridiculous contract before playing in the majors – which always brings an unwarranted amount of hate to a player that never had a chance to prove himself. On top of that the Klentak-era, that included Gabe Kapler’s “launch angle” completely destroyed any prospect during that time period. 

Remember: There was a point where Rhys Hoskins was playing left field for the Phillies and had a completely broken swing because of the “launch angle theory” but was given playing time to redeem himself. 

Scott Kingery was not granted the same opportunity. 

Yes…I am very well aware that he has a high strikeout percentage. Kingery has struck out 111 times in the 354 at-bats mentioned above but that is literally the dumbest reason that people respond with every time I write about Scott Kingery given his OPS, slugging percentage, and batting average. 

Stop using that as a reason. It’s stupid. 

Instead, focus on the players that the Phillies continuously add to their 40-man roster over Scott Kingery. There you will find the following players that literally NO ONE can say is more deserving of a spot on the roster over Kingery, based on the production given this season at both the minor league and major league level. 

Hostage Crisis: Scott Kingery is in Lehigh Valley JAIL >>

Before we switch over to the 40-man roster specifically, we can start with the most glaring issue that the Phillies are facing in their infield. Bryson Stott is killing this team.

Bryson Stott

Stott is having the worst season of his entire career at the major league level with the Phillies. In 370 at-bats this season, he has just eight home runs and 45 RBI to go along with a .232 batting average and a .652 OPS. 

Over his last 30 games, Bryson Stott has hit just .198 with three homers and 7 RBI. He is a ZERO in what is otherwise a dominant Phillies infield. 

Bryson Stott Recent Numbers:

• Last 5 games: 1-18 (.056), 2 SO, 0 BB
• Last 10 games: 5-37 (.135), 4 SO, 0 BB
• Last 19 games: 14-67 (.209), 8 SO, 1 BB
• This season: 86-370 (.232), 66 SO, 41 BB

In his career with the Phillies, Bryson Stott has hit .253 with a .693 OPS. He is four years younger than Scott Kingery. This is not a call to replace Bryson Stott but rather just insight into how the Phillies’ organization has abandoned Kingery while fully supporting a (developing?) player such as Bryson Stott.

Bryson Stott Best MLB Season (2023) 

• .280 BA
• .748 OPS
• 15 Home Runs 
• 62 RBI
• 32 Doubles 
• 2 Triples 
• 31 Stolen Bases 

Scott Kingery Best MLB Season (2019)

• .258 BA
• .789 OPS
• 19 Home Runs
• 55 RBI
• 34 Doubles 
• 4 Triples 
• 15 Stolen Bases

Note: 2019 was the last full season Scott Kingery played at the Major League level. In 2020, COVID derailed his career. He appeared in just 36 games that season while dealing with injuries. The following season, Kingery played in just 15 games at the major league level and was on the roster for a single game in 2022, but did not play. 

Am I going crazy or does Scott Kingery, given his current production in Lehigh Valley along with his best (and last season) in the majors, seem like that he is at the VERY least, worth a look at the major league level? 

Obviously, the Phillies organization is high on Stott and moving him anywhere is simply not an option. The more-likely course of action would be to platoon him with Edmundo Sosa, who is having a great year with the Phillies this season.

Regardless, the point remains. Dave Dombrowski, John Middleton, and the entire Philadelphia Phillies front office is keeping Scott Kingery in minor league jail. He isn’t even considered, no matter what he is doing in Lehigh Valley.

Why?

If you look at the other players on the 40-man roster, I find it hard to believe that anyone thinks they are better options to have over Scott Kingery. Let’s review.

Rodolfo Castro 

Rodolfo Castro has 566 at-bats in the majors and has managed to post a miserable .219 average with a .672 OPS. He has a total of 22 home runs and 59 RBI in the majors, playing roughly two years with the Pittsburgh Pirates before getting moved to Philly last season. 

With the Phillies specifically, Castro has posted a .100 batting average with a .256 OPS. He has a total of three hits in 30 at-bats. 

Castro has appeared in 15 games this season in Lehigh Valley. He has a total of 56 at-bats and has 12 hits with just one double and two homers – good for a .214 average and a .629 OPS. 

Please for the love of god, tell me why Rodolfo Castro is on the 40-man roster. 

Kody Clemens

Kody Clemens proved he is worth a 40-man roster spot by hitting .259 with nine home runs and 37 RBI in 212 at-bats at the minor league level this season. 

Unfortunately, that production has yet to translate into the majors. 

In 62 at-bats at the major league level this season, he’s posted a .242 average with a .777 OPS to go along with three homers and 10 RBI. 

Point being, Clemens, two years younger than Kingery, continues to be an unproven major league talent. He has a career batting average of .201 with a .618 OPS to go along with 12 home runs and 40 RBI.

Clemens has 318 at-bats at the major league level which is plenty of run to prove yourself – something he has failed to do. 

Weston Wilson 

Wilson posted a .240 average with a .827 OPS in Lehigh Valley this season before getting a call-up to the majors after the Phillies outfield situation took a turn for the worse. 

In 33 at-bats as a spot-starter in the outfield with the Phillies, Weston Wilson has posted a .273 batting average with a .771 OPS. The 29-year old has two home runs and 6 RBI. 

Jury is still out on Wilson. I certainly have my doubts but at this time, I’m unwilling to criticize him based off his limited playing time. 

Cal Stevenson 

Stevenson is 27 years old. In 287 at-bats at the minor league level, he hit .307 with a .908 OPS to go along with seven home runs and 37 RBI. 

In May 2023, the Phillies claimed Stevenson off waivers from the San Francisco Giants and optioned him to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He was a non-roster invite to Spring Training in 2024 and had his contract selected on August 9th to join the Phillies, again, because of their nightmare situation in the outfield. 

In 5 at-bats at the Major League level, Stevenson has one hit and one RBI. Like Weston Wilson, there’s not enough of a sample size to write him off completely, but again, much like Wilson, he’s nearly 30 years old and it’s hard to argue he’s a better option than Scott Kingery. 

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