Kingery locked up with six-year contract
CLEARWATER, FLA. » The Phillies and prized prospect Scott Kingery have reached a six-year contract, a major endorsement for a player who has yet to reach the big leagues.
The Phillies announced the deal Sunday that goes through the 2023 season. There also are three team options running through 2026. Reports indicate that Kingery is guaranteed $24 million in the contract.
The 23-year-old Kingery is batting .392 in 20 spring training games and is tied for the Grapefruit League lead with 20 hits. He hit a combined .304 with 26 home runs and 29 steals as a second baseman for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading last year. He was a second-round pick in the 2015 draft from the University of Arizona.
Kingery is regarded as the best second-base prospect in baseball. The Phillies currently have Cesar Hernandez as their starting second baseman, so Kingery has also seen time at third base this spring and worked in the outfield. He played two games at shortstop in Lehigh Valley last year.
Coming off a 66-96 record and last-place finish in the NL East, the Phillies have been aggressive going into this season. They recently signed former NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta after previously adding slugger Carlos Santana.
The Phillies also designated catcher Cameron Rupp for assignment Sunday, ending one of the longest active tenures in the clubhouse.
Rupp battled .234 in 296 games with the Phillies since making his big league debut in 2013. He was limited to 88 games last season, losing ground in the battle for playing time to younger and more highly touted prospects Jorge Alfaro and Andrew Knapp, who will be the Phillies’ two backstops to start the season. But the 29-year-old Rupp had a vital role in helping develop the Phillies’ young pitching staff through a years-long rebuild and was seen as a clubhouse leader on a young team.
If Rupp clears waivers, the Phillies have seven days to trade, release or demote him to Triple-A, if Rupp agrees to it. Rupp’s removal from the 40man roster allows pitcher Drew Hutchinson to be added. The 27-year-old right-hander went 9-9 with a 3.56 ERA for Pittsburgh’s Triple-A club last season and is likely to make the Phillies’ bullpen.