Phillies forgotten former top prospect could be surprise impact September callup

A championship pursuit is an all-hands-on-deck endeavor. For the Philadelphia Phillies, that could take contributions from unlikely sources.

After suffering heartbreaking defeats in October each of the past two seasons, the Phillies are on a quest to win a long-awaited World Series trophy. With Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, and Alec Bohm flanking superstar Bryce Harper, the Phillies remain one of the favorites to win the National League.

In contrast to all that star power, though, there is one Phillies player who has become a forgotten man in the organization who still may have something to offer. One writer predicted that the same player will make an impact this September.

Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report predicted that Phillies minor-league utility man Scott Kingery, a second-round draft pick all the way back in 2015, will earn a September call-up for Philadelphia in 2024.

"The 30-year-old has again been a fixture on the Triple-A Lehigh Valley roster this season, and it has been a productive one," Reuter said. "With utility man Edmundo Sosa struggling offensively since a terrific first two months of the season, there could be a role for Kingery in September."

Kingery has not appeared in a big-league game since 2022. He was given a six-year, $24 million extension in 2018 that ran out at the end of 2023 but returned to the Phillies organization on the final season of his original minor-league contract.

In parts of five seasons with the Phillies, Kingery could never figure out how to hit big-league pitching. He is a lifetime .229/.280/.387 hitter, good for a 74 OPS+. Playing mostly shortstop, center field, and second base, Kingery gradually lost playing time as the years went by.

However, in 2024, Kingery has sprung to life in Triple-A, putting together a .281/.329/.518 slash line with 23 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 106 games. Six years after signing that extension, Kingery seems to be rediscovering some of the promise the Phillies once saw.

If Kingery can make an impact for this championship-hungry Phillies team down the stretch, it will be one of the redemption stories of the 2024 MLB season. But as Kingery already knows, it's much different trying to make it all happen against the best of the best.

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