The Philadelphia Phillies have seen a plethora of players come and go throughout their 143-year existence. While some of those players left a lasting impression that won't be forgotten, other names have become more forgotten the further they get from their last Phillies appearance.
One recent player who went from being a Philadelphia starter to an afterthought is veteran infielder Scott Kingery. The former 2015 second-round selection spent nearly a decade with the Phillies after getting drafted but hasn't played an MLB game since June 2022, leading to his getting a fresh start when he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels in November.
Former Phillies 2B Scott Kingery Makes MLB Return With Angels
Six months after being sent packing from the City of Brotherly Love, Kingery finally MLB return. The Angels announced they had selected the 31-year-old veteran's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday, leading to his big-league return two days later.
Kingery went 1-of-3 with a double and a walk during the Angels' 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians. He also scored the game-winning run when he crossed home plate on a passed ball during the top of the seventh inning.
"To finally get up here and be able to contribute in a couple ways... it's awesome," Kingery told Angels reported Erica Weston after the game. "
INF/OF Scott Kingery’s post-game interview with @EricaLWeston
— Angels News (@AngelsNews27) May 31, 2025
Kingery on his first big league hit since 2021, being back in the big leagues, playing 2nd Base, RHP Jose Soriano pic.twitter.com/1Kjuv6EXv1
A former top-20 prospect, it didn't take long for Kingery to play a big role in Philadelphia. The ex-Phillies 2B saw 910 at-bats across 273 games in his first two MLB seasons, resulting in 27 home runs, 90 RBIs, 58 walks, 25 stolen bases, and a .242/.291/.407 slash line along the way.
Unfortunately, a series of injuries combined with the COVID-19 pandemic caused Kingery's outlook with the Phillies to take a major hit. He only played 52 games between the 2020 and 2022 seasons before spending the last two campaigns entirely with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
With that in mind, it's great to see Kingery's fresh start paying off. Before Friday's MLB return, the Phoenix, AZ native was slashing .373/.418/.578 with two HRs, five doubles, three triples, and 12 RBIs in 21 games (83 ABs) with Salt Lake.
If he can stick with Los Angeles, it won't be long before Kingery faces his former team for the first time. The Phillies and Angels are set to play a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park immediately after the MLB All-Star break, leaving Kingery just over a month to prove he belongs on a big-league roster.