By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
With just four weeks remaining until Opening Day, Philadelphia Phillies non-roster invitee and top infield prospect Scott Kingery is looking to take advantage of his remaining time in big league camp before reporting to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs to begin the 2018 season.
The Phoenix, Arizona native joined Al Morganti, Rhea Hughes and Marc Farzetta of the WIP Morning Show at Spectrum Field Thursday morning, discussing his thoughts on camp thus far and what he looks to get out of it under rookie manager Gabe Kapler.
"I think it's really cool the kind of things [Gabe] is doing right now. He's very positive and it's all different stuff from last year," Kingery said. "It's just a lot of positive vibes going through the clubhouse. He really talks about focusing on your strengths rather than taking your weaknesses and thinking about those. He talks about focusing on what you can do to make your strengths even better, rather than kind of sacrifice those to go work on your weaknesses. I think that's something really interesting and really unique."
Among the things that Kapler is stressing the importance of this spring is being versatile. We have seen already this thought process being worked into games, with Tommy Joseph switching back-and-forth between left and right fields in Tuesday's 11-6 home defeat to the Detroit Tigers. Kingery himself, a long-time second base prospect since starting in the organization with the Lakewood BlueClaws in 2015, has been asked this spring to get acclimated with the shortstop and third base positions. Kapler also reportedly looks to get Kingery playing time in center field. The 23-year-old does not mind switching around positions in camp, however, saying being versatile is "a good thing."
"I think the more versatile you are, the better chance you have," Kingery said. "If something happens, if someone goes down, if someone gets traded, you can get your foot in the door that way. It doesn't necessarily mean I'll be stuck at that position, but if I can get my foot in the door at a different position, and eventually switch back to second base, I'm all for it."
Despite taking reps at three infield positions for the Phillies this spring, Kingery recognizes that he still will begin the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Remaining in the minors would allow Kingery to receive ample at-bats, as his plate appearances would be limited in the majors with Maikel Franco, J.P. Crawford and Cesar Hernandez being the everyday third baseman, shortstop and second baseman, respectively.
Kingery remains focused to "fine-tune a few things," such as his approach at the plate and drawing more walks, with the time he has left alongside the major leaguers this spring.
"I'm trying to just focus on what I can do right now, because I know I'll start the year in the minors and, for me, I think I have a few things that I want to at least get a little better at … fine-tune a few things and try to work on some stuff, so I can eventually take that into the big leagues once I get there," Kingery said. "My approach at the plate sometimes tends to get outside the zone when I swing at some pitches I shouldn't be swinging at. A guy like me, who can steal a base and get myself in scoring position just be being on base, it's important for me to take walks when I can get them."
"Sometimes I reach outside the zone and try to put the ball in play too much when I could just take a walk."
As Kingery and the rest of the Phillies progress through the daily rigor of big league camp, Kapler stresses the importance of the players to "be bold." While the phrase has become the motto of the team this spring under him, but Kingery believes it has a "different definition for each person."
"[#BeBold means] the encourage to step up and be the kind of player you know you can be every time you get on the field," Kingery said. "You know what you are capable of and just go out there, test your limits and just prove what you can do."
Kingery is batting .444/.500/1.111 in nine at-bats so far this spring with two runs scored, 10 total bases, two singles, two home runs, two RBIs, one walk and one strikeout. The Phillies' 2018 regular season will begin on Thursday, March 29, away against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park.
