The Scott Kingery “era” is over in Philadelphia.
In a move that should surprise no one, the Phillies on Friday declined their 2024 option on the one-time wunderkind. The option would’ve paid Kingery, who didn’t play in the big leagues in 2023, $13 million. Instead, the club took a $1 million buyout.
Kingery signed a six-year, $24 million deal in 2018, before he’d ever set foot on a major league field. It didn’t quite work out, for a variety of reasons.
He batted .226 with eight homers in 147 games in 2018, then .258 in 126 games in 2019. He struggled through the pandemic-shortened 2020 with a .159 average in 36 games, after he had battled the coronavirus. And he had just 19 plate appearances in the big leagues the last three seasons. He was part of some very bad Phillies teams, playing for managers whom he’s managed to outlive in Philly.
A second baseman in the minors, Kingery was shuttled to shortstop in 2018, then center field in 2019, trying to fill gaps in deficient rosters. When a new front office did that through signings, Kingery no longer had a place on the team.
The second round draft pick in 2015 hit .244 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year after a .230 average, seven homers and 34 RBIs in 2022. He made a run at a roster spot in spring training with a .340 average, but the roster math wasn’t in his favor.
Kingery played one inning without getting a plate appearance on June 8, 2022. His last at-bat as a Phillie came May 16, 2021.
The Phillies Friday also filled their bullpen coaching vacancy from within by elevating Cesar Ramos.
Ramos, 39, spent two seasons as the pitching coach for Lehigh Valley, after his pro career ended in 2017. A former first-round draft pick, the left-handed reliever pitched in 267 career major league games with San Diego, Tampa, the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers with a 10-15 record and 4.02 ERA.
He joined the Phillies as a player information assistant in 2020.
He replaces Dave Lundquist, who spent five years with the Phillies.
