Welcome to the big league, Scott Kingery.
The Philadelphia Phillies infielder and former Arizona Wildcat made his major league debut at third base Friday night, and notched his first career hit in the fourth inning against Atlanta pitcher Mike Foltynewicz.
Kingery, a second-round draft pick for the Phillies in 2015, inked a six-year deal Sunday through 2023 with $24 million guaranteed. It's the most guaranteed money for a player yet to make his big league debut in the MLB since Jon Singleton signed with the Astros in 2014.
The deal includes club options in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Kingery batted sixth in the Phillies' lineup and his first at-bat came in the top of the second inning, ending in a four-pitch strikeout. His first hit, a liner back up the middle, came on a 1-0 count with two outs in the fourth.
First game, first hit. @ScottyJetp4x was #ReadyToGo. pic.twitter.com/hveHZFB2qY
— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2018
He was stranded at third after advancing to second on a wild pitch by Foltynewicz, and again on a throwing error by catcher Kurt Suzuki.
The rookie wasn't done for the night, either, as he lined into right for his second hit with one out and a runner on base in the eighth inning. The hit came off Sam Freeman, and the Braves made a pitching switch after Kingery's hit put runners at first and second with a 4-3 lead. Kingery wouldn't advance, and Atlanta got out of the inning clean.
Kingery finished 2 for 5 at the plate in Philadelphia's 11-inning, 5-4 win over Atlanta. He became the first Phillies player to record two hits in his major league debut since Domonic Brown in 2010, according to the broadcast.
After playing two years as an outfielder at Arizona, Kingery made the switch to second where he's played traditionally since. He can shift to third base like he did Friday and to short stop when needed, making the rookie a valuable asset for a Philadelphia team looking to bounce back from some down years.
Kingery's six-year contract proves the Phillies organization has high hopes for the former Wildcat, but he'll likely sit behind everyday starters Cesar Hernandez and Maikel Franco at second and third base, respectively, for the foreseeable future. Hernandez is a career .285 hitter and Franco knocked 24 homers for Philadelphia last season.
Kingery's insertion into the lineup Friday could have came as a result of some early frustrations after an Opening Day loss. Regardless, Philadelphia had to have liked what it saw.
