Scott Kingery takes 'perfect test' for injured hamstring — and passes
By Tom Housenick
| Reading, Pa.
Scotty Jetpax is back.
Now it's a matter of finding the timing at the plate that helped the Phillies utility player get off to a hot start to this season before a hamstring injury landed him on the injured list.
Scott Kingery was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his second rehab game Thursday in Double-A Reading's 7-2 over Portland at FirstEnergy Stadium. He also scored a run, sprinting from first base on Mickey Moniak's third-inning triple.
Scott Kingery went 0-for-4 but he passed his big test. Hammy looks ready scoring on this run tonight in Reading.
A post shared by Rob Kuestner (@rkuestner23) on May 16, 2019 at 7:19pm PDT
Kingery also drove in one on a grounder that was booted and recorded one putout as a second baseman as part of a third-inning double play.
This is his first career stint on the injured list.
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"It was very frustrating at first," Kingery said. "This is my first really baseball injury. I wanted to speed things up. [The Phillies] were like, 'Relax, this is going to take some time.'
"It's frustrating sitting on the bench watching, not being able to play. But things happen. I'm just trying to stay positive."
Scott Kingery competed in his second rehab game Thursday for the Reading FIghtins. (Mitchell Leff/Getty)
Kingery is expected to play third base and center field during Friday's 7:10 p.m. game before the Phillies re-evaluate him. He had a single in three at-bats and played shortstop Tuesday for low-A Lakewood in his first rehab game.
The 25-year-old has not played for Philadelphia since April 19, when he hurt his right hamstring in a game in Colorado against the Rockies.
Pitch by pitch for Kingery
First at-bat
Fouled off a 90-mph fastball
Swung and missed at a 92-mph fastball
Swung and missed at an 84-mph slider
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Second at-bat
Ball, 96-mph fastball
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Fouled off an 84-mph changeup
Reached on an error (grounder to second base) on a 94-mph pitch (Arquimedes Gamboa scored on the play). He scored from first on Mickey Moniak's triple down the right-field line.
"That was the most important thing," Kingery said. "That felt really good. No signs of a past injury. It felt normal.
"That was full speed. That was reaction. I didn't know if they were going to send me. It was full speed until third, then I turned it on again. That was a perfect test for my hamstring."
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Third at-bat
He flew out to right field on a broken bat on first-pitch fastball at 93 mph.
Fourth at-bat
First-pitch fastball (95 mph) for a called strike
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Swing and miss at a 94-mph fastball
Ball on a 94-mph fastball
Fouled off an 83-mph slider
Swung and missed at an 84-mph changeup
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Total pitches: 14, 12 for strikes (11 swinging)
"Running wise, which is biggest issue, I'm 100 percent," Kingery said. "Now I just have to get the timing back at the plate and get some more game action so I can be ready to go.
"Right now, it's about testing the hamstring. You take three weeks off from seeing a live arm and get back in there, it's going to come at you fast.
"It's the live arm that you can't really simulate. That's the most important part about being here and playing rehab games."
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He was the pivot man on a 6-4-3 double play hit by Portland's C.J. Chatham in the third inning.
Look ahead, look back
If Kingery were activated this weekend, he would return to play against the Rockies, who open a three-game series Friday in Philadelphia.
Kingery was batting .406 in 14 games with the Phillies, but he had one hit in his last eight at-bats before the injury.
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"This year, I have been a little bit more aggressive and it has been working out well," he said. "Last year, I was very passive at the plate and I wanted to change that. When I was here and all through the minors, I was an aggressive hitter. I kind of got away from that last year."
The 2015 second-round pick's previous trip to Reading came in 2017, when he had 18 home runs, 19 stolen bases and 44 RBIs in 69 games with the Fightins. He was promoted to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 26.
After signing a 6-year, $24-million contract during spring training 2018, the minor-league second baseman has played six positions the last two years with the Phillies.
When Kingery returns to the majors, he is expected to again play multiple spots on the diamond.
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Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com
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