Three seasons ago, Scott Kingery signed a six-year, $24 million contract — the largest ever for a player who had never played a single major-league game.
Since then, it has been a career full of struggles for Kingery, which continued into 2021. The 27-year-old didn’t produce in his time on the field has since suffered an injury that will keep him off it until at least next spring.
On Sunday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reported that Kingery will finish his 2021 season on the injured list after having right shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
It ends a season in which Kingery bounced back and forth in between the major and minor leagues, largely unable to find a groove or a meaningful role with the Phillies, who needed the utility player as they dealt with depth issues in the majors
Kingery hit just .053 in 19 plate appearances before being placed on the injury list with a concussion on May 17. He started a rehab stint for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on June 1 and was outrighted to Triple-A on June 7 after he was placed on and cleared waivers. That set him up for an extended stay in Lehigh Valley as he was removed from the 40-man roster.
There his woes continued, as Kingery hit just .181 for the IronPigs, last playing on June 26 due to the injury.