Kapler: Starting Kingery Over Hernandez ‘Under Consideration’

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Phillies’ hot start to the 2019 season continued on Sunday, as they edged the Minnesota Twins, 2-1, to capture their sixth win in eight total games.

The club has three batters with an on-base percentage over .500, and three with an OPS over 1.200. Rhys Hoskins and Maikel Franco, their eighth hitter, each have three home runs, along with 13 and 10 RBI, respectively. Bryce Harper has a team-leading 10 walks, with just as many strikeouts over 26 at-bats; he also leads in batting average (.385), OBP (.563) and slugging percentage (.846).

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Among the players not yet connecting to the baseball through eight games, however, is second baseman Cesar Hernandez. The seven-year veteran has three singles, one double and one triple thus far through 28 at-bats, along with four RBI, three walks and three strikeouts, en route to a .179/.250/.286 slash.

Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler said during his Sunday postgame press conference that starting utility player Scott Kingery in Hernandez’s place “is something that is under consideration,” and that the club will “talk about it” later in the evening.

“Cesar has not gotten off to his best start,” Kapler said, adding that the Phillies still have a “tremendous amount of confidence” in him, “based on his track record.”

Philly.com’s Matt Breen writes:

Kapler made it clear that Hernandez’s job as the starting second baseman is not in question and that he would be in the lineup the next day if Kingery starts a game. Kingery has played just 10 outs in the field this season as the Phillies rolled with a set lineup.

Kingery, 24, has yet to start this season; in four at-bats as a pinch-hitter, he is 0-for-4 with one run, one walk and one strikeout (.000/.200/.000). For a young player needing to still develop in the majors, his current “per-diem role” is anything but ideal.

“[Cesar] has a track record of getting on base, he has a track record of being a productive offensive player,” Kapler said.

“We expect the same from him this year, and if we decide that he needs a blow, we’ll get Scotty in there.”