The Phillies continued to attempt to build an infield of the future, adding Scott Kingery to the organization with their second round pick at 48th overall.
Kingery joins Cornelius Randolph as the Phillies second selection on Day 1 of the three-day Draft.
Here is a scouting report on Kingery.
If Randolph is supposed to be the project, Kingery is the finished product of sorts. He's already advanced having played three seasons at Arizona and brings a smooth hitting stroke and excellent fielding ability.
Kingery's most noticeable feature is his defense. The 5'11", 175 pound middle infielder is quick on his feet, has great range and is a difference maker in the field.
Offensively, Kingery has a short swing that shows flashes of power but makes him primarily a line-drive hitter. While his power is few and far between, he hits the ball to all fields, including the gaps, and has speed on the basepaths to make things happen.
He a tough player to strike out, as he has very solid contact skills and understands many of the situations he's in during a game.
Kingery is a little like Aaron Nola in the sense that he's very close to major-league ready as is. The difference here is that his upside is not nearly as high as Nola's.
Kingery has some room for growth, but really is what he is at this point. He's a solid defender and a good contact hitter that can slide into the lower half of the lineup but still be a valuable part of a roster.
In some senses, it's a safe pick with not too much upside. But Kingery could turn into a key part of the Phillies puzzle with his situational hitting and excellent fielding.
Kevin Durso is a contributing writer and editorial assistant for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
