Scott Kingery

Scott Kingery Bio

Scott Michael Kingery is an American professional baseball utility player currently in the Chicago Cubs organization. Born on April 29, 1994, in Phoenix, Arizona, Kingery has played in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels. The Phillies selected him in the second round, 48th overall, of the 2015 MLB draft, and he played with them from 2018 to 2022. Known for his versatility and adaptability, Kingery has transitioned between multiple positions throughout his professional career.

Early Life and Background

Scott Michael Kingery was born on April 29, 1994, in Phoenix, Arizona. His father Tom was a corporate account manager for American Express, while his mother Patti taught preschool for a private school in the Phoenix area. Kingery and his identical twin brother Sam both played baseball from the age of five, with their father serving as their coach through 2006, when the Kingery family appeared in the Little League World Series. The Kingerys’ Ahwatukee Foothills Little League team won the West Region to advance to the World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Path to Baseball

Always small for his age, Kingery’s childhood role model was Dustin Pedroia, who was playing college baseball at the time for the Arizona State Sun Devils. Pedroia, who ended up playing in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox, was a similarly undersized middle infielder, and Kingery modeled his playing style after that fashion. While Kingery played baseball at Mountain Pointe High School in Ahwatukee, his coach said that he had “that ‘it’ factor… He just knew how to make plays and just did things that just separated him from everybody else.” As a junior during the 2011 high school baseball season, Kingery batted .495 with 10 home runs and 39 runs batted in (RBIs).

Scott Kingery Career

Early Career (2015-2018)

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Kingery in the second round, 48th overall, of the 2015 MLB draft. Kingery signed with the Phillies on June 16, 2015, for a signing bonus of $1,259,600. He began his professional baseball career as the starting second baseman for the Single–A Lakewood BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League, where he posted a .250 average with three home runs, 21 RBIs, and 43 runs scored in 252 at bats. Going into the 2016 Minor League Baseball season, Kingery was assigned to the High–A Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League, where he served as the team’s second baseman and leadoff hitter. He spent the majority of the season there, receiving midseason and post-season Florida State League All-Star honors and batting .293 with 29 doubles, three home runs, and 26 stolen bases in 94 games.

Philadelphia Phillies Breakthrough (2018-2022)

On March 25, 2018, the Phillies announced that they had signed Kingery to a six-year, $24 million contract extension and added him to their 2018 opening day roster. He started at third base for the season opener against the Atlanta Braves and collected two hits in his major league debut. In a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds in April, Kingery collected a series of firsts. On April 9, 2018, he recorded his first major league home run as part of the Phillies’ 6–5 win. The next day, he recorded a grand slam in a 6–1 rout of Cincinnati. Finally, on April 11, he finished the series with his first career walkoff, a sacrifice fly that brought Pedro Florimon home to beat the Reds 4–3 in extra innings. Kingery finished his rookie season batting .226 with eight home runs, 38 RBIs, and 55 runs in 452 at bats. He played 119 games at shortstop, 10 at third base, four at second base, and seven in the outfield.

Chicago Cubs Era (2026-Present)

On December 2, 2025, Kingery signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. On March 25, 2026, the Cubs selected Kingery’s contract after he made the team’s Opening Day roster. Through his first few games with the Cubs, Kingery has continued to demonstrate his versatility, playing multiple positions and contributing to the team’s success. His experience in the Major Leagues has made him a valuable asset to the Cubs’ roster.

Playing Style and Strengths

Primarily a second baseman throughout his college and minor league career, Kingery became a utility player upon his promotion to the majors. Offensively, his approach to the plate originates from his work in 2017 with hitting coach Richard Schenck, who Kingery claims teaches players to hit based on “the opposite of what you’ve always been taught”. He has continued to make adjustments to his stance and swinging extension throughout his major league career in response to an inconsistent plate production. In 2021, he attributed his decreased confidence during major league play to his ever-changing role, telling reporters that, when he was at the plate, he was often thinking more about his position on the field than the ball in front of him.

Notable Events and Milestones

Kingery achieved several milestones during his time with the Phillies. In April 2018, during a series against the Cincinnati Reds, he recorded his first major league home run, followed by a grand slam the next day, and then his first career walk-off. He also made an appearance as a pitcher in 2018, allowing two runs in the final 1+1/3 innings of a game against the New York Mets. Kingery was named to the All-Star Futures Game in 2017, representing the Phillies’ top prospects.

Scott Kingery Career Wins

Throughout his professional career, Scott Kingery has compiled a solid record with consistent performance across different levels of professional baseball. His ability to adapt to various positions and contribute both offensively and defensively has made him a valuable player in organizations where versatility is prized.

MLB Highlights

Kingery’s most notable achievement in Major League Baseball came during his rookie season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018. He recorded 8 home runs and 38 RBIs while batting .226, demonstrating his potential as a power hitter. His performance included a particularly impressive series against the Cincinnati Reds in April 2018 where he hit his first major league home run followed by a grand slam and a walk-off hit in consecutive games. During his time with the Phillies, Kingery also showed flashes of his stolen base potential, successfully stealing bases when given the opportunity.

Other Wins & Performances

In his minor league career, Kingery achieved significant success across multiple levels. As a junior in college, he was named the Pac-12 Conference Baseball Player of the Year after leading the conference with a .392 batting average, 53 runs scored, and 93 hits. In the minor leagues, Kingery was selected to the All-Star Futures Game in 2017 and earned a spot on Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star Second Team that same year. His performance in 2016 with the High-A Clearwater Threshers earned him both midseason and post-season Florida State League All-Star honors.

Scott Kingery Family

Family Background and Baseball Lineage

Scott Michael Kingery comes from a family with a strong baseball background. He and his identical twin brother Sam both played baseball from the age of five, with their father Tom serving as their coach. The Kingery family appeared in the Little League World Series in 2006 when their Ahwatukee Foothills Little League team won the West Region. Scott played shortstop in the World Series, while Sam was at second base. The two brothers continued playing baseball together through high school, with Sam initially attending Northern Arizona University before transferring to Arizona as a sophomore, though he was not selected for the baseball team.

Personal Life

Scott Kingery maintains a relatively private personal life outside of baseball. He was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where his parents still reside. Throughout his career, Kingery has dealt with the challenges of being a smaller player in a sport where size often matters, frequently modeling his approach after his childhood hero Dustin Pedroia. His ability to overcome physical limitations has become a notable aspect of his baseball narrative, contributing to his reputation as a resilient and adaptable player who maximizes his talents regardless of natural physical advantages.

2025 Season Performance

During the 2025 season, Scott Kingery had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Angels. After being traded to the Angels in November 2024, he spent most of the season in the minor leagues with the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. While playing for Salt Lake, Kingery hit a combined .373/.418/.578 in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League—numbers that were inflated by a .433 batting average on balls in play. He was selected to the Angels’ active roster twice during the season, appearing in 19 games total and recording 4 hits in 27 at-bats, including one stolen base. Kingery struggled to find consistent playing time in the majors, being designated for assignment twice before electing free agency in September 2025, which led to his subsequent signing with the Chicago Cubs organization for the following season.