Dynamic Scott Kingery Dominates Double-A

Best Player

Scrappy second baseman Scott Kingery, who went from walk-on at Arizona to Pac-12 Conference batting champion and conference player of the year, has emerged as the most talked-about prospect in the system, and for good reason.

The 23-year-old, a 2015 second-round pick, tore up the Double-A Eastern League, hitting .313/.379/.608 with 18 home runs in 69 games before earning a late-June promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was successful on 20 of his first 23 stolen base attempts this season.

“Offense, defense, baserunning—he has the whole package,” farm director Joe Jordan said. “He impacts the game in a lot of ways every night.”

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Kingery entered the season with just eight homers in his first 783 pro at-bats. He’s not the first player to enjoy a power spike at Reading, but those who watch him every night say he’s gotten stronger and maintained his short, quick swing.

Kingery was a dynamo in all phases of the game during big league camp, leading Phillies manager Pete Mackanin to say he might be a fast-tracker to the majors. His rise could turn Cesar Hernandez into a trade chip this winter.

Biggest Leap Forward

Reliever Jesen Therrien, a 24-year-old righthander drafted out of junior college in his native Montreal in the 17th round in 2011, has emerged as a strike-throwing machine with a wipeout slider that reminds the Phillies of the downward hard-breaker that Brad Lidge threw.

Athletic and power-armed, Therrien struck out 51 and walked just five while allowing just 27 hits in 43 innings at Double-A and Triple-A.

“We loved his breaking ball in spring training,” Mackanin said. “We got really excited about him. For me, he’s on the map, especially out of the bullpen. If you have a good breaking ball and can command it, that’s half the battle.”