Skip to main content

Kroon's smash is the difference as Kingery rehabs with victorious BlueClaws

Matt Kroon, image- Jay Floyd
LAKEWOOD-- Matt Kroon's first home run of the season plated three in the bottom of the 8th inning to give the Class A BlueClaws a 4-3 victory over Hagerstown on Tuesday night at FirstEnergy Park.

Kroon's big fly came against Suns relief pitcher Ryan Tapani.

Following the game, the 22-year-old righty batter, Kroon, stated that his game plan heading into the at bat, with his team trailing by a pair of runs, was finding a pitch to drive.  The result, however, surprised even the young Phillies prospect.

"Having zero home runs on the season, I had no thought in my head whatsoever that I'm gonna go up there and hit a three-run home run," said Kroon.  "Funny things happen in this game.  Thankfully, it was able to happen to me tonight."

Lakewood reliever Kyle Glogoski notched the win, his second of the year, for the 'Claws while allowing an earned run over 3 2/3 innings of work.  Gilmael Troya recorded the save for Lakewood.

With Lakewood for the contest was Phillies utility man Scott Kingery, who was on a rehab assignment, as he works his way back from a right hamstring strain.  The 25-year-old went 1-for-3 with a fielding error as the shortstop, playing seven innings.

Following the game, Kingery said he felt fine physically.  He stressed the key for him now is to get his timing and feel for the game back after missing three weeks with the injury.

Kingery asserted that he anticipates joining Double-A Reading, likely for two more games, before he is activated on the big league roster this coming weekend.  The Fightin Phils host division rival Portland on Thursday at 6:45PM and Friday at 7:10PM.

The 25-year-old righty hitter made his professional debut with Lakewood after being drafted in the second round four years ago.

Scott Kingery, image- Jay Floyd
"It brought back memories," Kingery said of being back in Lakewood.  "It's the first place I came after I got drafted in 2015.  My host family I stayed with they actually came to the game to watch me and I got to talk to them.  It's fun being back here."

Originally slated to begin his rehab appearance on Monday in Lakewood, things were delayed one day due to a rain out.  Kingery took advantage of his time around the BlueClaws, bonding with younger players.

"It's good to just kind of come down here and get to know them a little bit," Kingery stated.  "It's a lot of guys I haven't met before, so it's good to get to know them." 

As is generally a tradition when well-paid major leaguers compete in the minor leagues on a rehab assignment, Kingery picked up a special post-game meal for the Lakewood players. 

"He's a great guy," said Kroon, who was 2-for-4 on the night. "He worked with us all day.  He's been a good guy to have around the locker room.  Good atmosphere with him around."

His presence was welcome around a team that has struggled to notch victories wins of late.  Prior to Tuesday's win, the BlueClaws had lost nine of their previous 12 match ups. 

Here's hoping whatever rubbed off from the big leaguer sticks around longer than the player did.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

2021 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #22 SS Casey Martin

Please visit Patreon.com/PhoulBallz in order to support my work, get access to material like this before anyone else and get access to interviews as well as other exclusive content you can't get anywhere else.   A third round draft pick last year, Arkansas junior Casey Martin was quickly signed by the Phillies and consideration as one of the organization's top infield prospects quickly began.  The team's confidence in his ceiling is likely evident in the signing bonus he got, which was reportedly $1.3 million, which was considerably more than slot money dictated by his 87th overall draft position ($685K). The right-handed batting Martin tallied a .311/.393/.545 slash line with 30 homers, 24 steals and 112 RBI in 143 games through his college career at Arkansas.  Reports had him falling in the draft as a result of an injury to the hamate bone in his left hand prior to his 2020 season.  Prior to the procedure, Baseball America projected Martin as a top ten draft pick.

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against.   The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball wi

Slick fielding Sam is the Champion of the (PhoulBallz) world!

Phillies Ball(z)girl Sam Arnone was kind enough to answer some questions for the PhoulBallz site and all of you. Sam will be entering her 3rd season as a Phillies ballgirl and is a junior at Drexel University. Sam hails from the great town of Mt. Ephram, NJ. 1- Since the Phillies are the World Champions of baseball teams, are the Phillies ballgirls the world champions of ballgirl teams? - Of Course!!! There are not that many teams that have Ballgirls, so the competition is a little scarce. I would definitely put my team up against any other Ballgirl team with full confidence! 2- What is your routine to prepare for a day of on-field duties? - Before a game, I am always a little nervous. Once I am ready to leave my house and head to the ballpark I triple check my bag to make sure I have my glove and then I check again. I always have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on wheat because it keeps me full and gives me energy for the entire game. I guess I might have to find a new favorite sa