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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 fo...

Scott Kingery, image- Jay Floyd A second round draft choice in 2015, second baseman Scott Kingery is a talented player that is primed to make an impact very soon with the Phillies. Kingery, who was a walk-on as a freshman at Arizona, was named Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2015, in his junior season. That year, he posted a .392/.423/.561 slash line while driving in 36 runs and stealing 11 bases in 54 games as a member of the Wildcats. In three college seasons, the right-handed batting Kingery sported a .351 batting average while driving in 80 runs and stealing 38 bases in 149 games. Making his pro debut following the draft, the five-foot-10 180-pounder joined the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws. In 66 games he tallied a .250/.314/.337 slash line while swiping 11 bags in 12 opportunities. In 2016 Kingery opened the season with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers. In 94 games in the Florida State League, the 22-year-old posted a .293 average with 29 doubles, three triples, t...

Scott Kingery, image- Jay Floyd Last week I talked with Phillies second base prospect Scott Kingery about recent accolades, as he was honored as the organization's annual Paul Owens Award winner and collected a Gold Glove Award for his stellar efforts on defense. Click here to read my complete feature on those honors. The following is interview excerpts featuring the 23-year-old's thoughts on the possible need for additional protective netting at big league ball fields and other topics related to his awards.  Read ahead for those exclusive quotes from Kingery. -He spoke about being named the top Phillies minor leaguer for the 2017 season... First of all the Paul Owens Award, it's an incredible honor to be able to get that aware when so many great players have come through and won that award, so it just shows the success that I was able to have this year and what I was able to do.  It's an honor just to have the Phillies think so highly of me and to ...

Scott Kingery, image- Jay Floyd Much attention was paid throughout the recent minor league season to Scott Kingery 's offense, but it's the defensive side of his game that he takes the most pride in. Fresh off a .304 average/26 home run/65 RBI/29 stolen base campaign combined at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season, Kingery was honored with a Rawlings Gold Glove Award this week.  The nod, given for defensive excellence, is awarded to one player at each position throughout the minors, putting Kingery in select company among thousands of players. The five-foot-ten 180-pound second baseman asserts that this honor didn't come as a surprise.  In fact, it was something that crossed his mind long ago. "Defense is something I take pride in and I set that goal for myself at the beginning of the year.  I told myself I wanted to be so solid that I had the chance to be put in the category or have the opportunity to win that award," Kingery said...

Scott Kingery, image- Jay Floyd Recently Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle conducted a survey of media members that cover and broadcast the Phillies minor league teams , designed to rank the top talents in the organization's developmental system. The participating individuals were asked to rank their personal top 30, which were tabulated on a points system based on each ranking to determine the paper's published list of top prospects. Participating individuals included Lehigh Valley beat reporter Tom Housenick, Tony Graham of the Lakewood BlueClaws, Mike Ventola of the Reading Fightins, Williamsport beat writer Mitch Rupert, Matt Winkleman of Crashburn Alley and several others including me.  Second baseman Scott Kingery, who represented the Phillies in the MLB All-Star Futures Game this summer and has been raking all year in a split season between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, tallied the most overall points.  Ranked best overall by the group, the 23-y...

ALLENTOWN, PA-- It already seemed like a regular thing at Coca-Cola Park on Thursday as buzz-worthy prospects Rhys Hoskins and Scott Kingery each slammed a home run for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.  Both players continue to fuel Phillies fans' desire to see them playing at the top level of the sport with similarly explosive offensive production. Invitations for Hoskins and Kingery to play on a big league field came this week, but it wasn't precisely what the home faithful were hoping for, as the duo was chosen to play in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. The annual exhibition, which began in 1999, features top prospects from all around professional baseball.  It is slated to be played at Marlins Park in Miami on Sunday, July 9th as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star festivities.  The game pits talents from the United States against players from the rest of the World. The pair of Phils prospects has somewhat paralleled one another on their paths up t...

Friend of the site Steve Potter, also known as @JpoppaCool on Twitter, took time this week to provide some lists of top performers throughout the Phillies' minor league ranks. Steve is the author of the book The 2016 Phillies Minor Leagues: A Fan's View .  It's a great paperback offering that is available at Citizens Bank Park and online from multiple outlets . With just Lakewood in action on Monday, out of the four full-season teams, most of the listings are accurate, with stats accurate through Sunday.  Take a look at the organization leader boards in various offensive and pitching categories below... Phillies Minor League Leaders - Pitching - ( thru 6/11/17 games ) - excluding guys now on Major League Roster  Top 10 - Wins  Tom Eshelman - 7 - ( Lehigh - 4, Reading - 3) Jose Taveras - 5 - Clearwater  Drew Anderson - 5 - Reading  Brandon Leibrandt - 5 - Reading 10 tied with 4  Top 10 (ERA - minimum 50 IP) - Starting Pitchers  Range...

I haven't delivered my usual semi-weekly hot lists this year, as I have in previous season.  I hope to bring these back more often, so here's a note book on top prospect performers throughout the Phillies' organization... Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs (37-18 record, 1st place IL North Division)- Hoskins, image- Jay Floyd No player in the Phils' system has been as consistent as first base prospect Rhys Hoskins .  The 24-year-old righty batter's 1.005 OPS leads the International League.  Hoskins, who was the Phillies' 5th round draft selection in 2014 is batting .302 with 13 home runs and 41 RBI in 55 games this season. Outfielder Cam Perkins is batting .385 over his last seven games.  Perkins, a 26-year-old, has posted a .289/393/.480 slash line through 48 games this year.  The righty batter was a 6th round draft selection by the Phils in 2012. Outfielder Nick Williams was 0-for-3 on Saturday night, but prior to that contest, the 23-year-old had g...

This week with the Double-A Reading Fightins making a stop in Trenton, I had the opportunity to chat with manager Greg Legg and surging second baseman Scott Kingery about several topics.  Primarily, both men spoke of Kingery's recent success at the plate ( click here for that article ), but Legg also talked to me about some other members of his roster including outfielder Andrew Pullin.  Kingery offered thoughts on a few other topics including a funny jab that a teammate took at him for being so good that it's gotten boring. Read ahead for those exclusive quotes from Legg and Kingery. Greg Legg, image- Jay Floyd -I asked Legg about outfielder Andrew Pullin, who has been an excellent offensive performer since he made his Double-A debut last year... He can hit.  He comes to the park and he knows how to hit and he's got some pop, extra base hits, he can leave the yard and he can hit anybody's fastball.   -I inquired with Legg about his Fightins pitching...

Kingery, image- Jay Floyd Another day, another home run for Phillies second base prospect Scott Kingery . A deep drive to left field off of Yankees number six prospect Justus Sheffield on Monday night on the road in Trenton would be the 23-year-old's minor league leading 14th homer of the season. The big fly marked Kingery's fifth round tripper in his last four games with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. With all the fireworks on display, the Phillies' second round draft choice from 2015 still doesn't feel that he's a power hitter. "I've been talking with (hitting coach John) Mizerock and I believe this as I go up, some of those home runs, they're going to start being doubles," Kingery stated following Monday's series opener.  "I think I'm a gap to gap guy.  I'll have my fair share of home runs.  I'll run into a few.  But it's been a line drive swing and I've tried to keep that approach and rig...

Well stocked for the future at the second base position, the Phillies have a collection of talented players enjoying success at several levels. It’s, as they say, a good problem to have. According to the Phillies’ director of player development Joe Jordan the collection of talent at a key position is something the Phillies’ brass has discussed considerably. Cesar Hernandez, image- Jay Floyd At the top level, Cesar Hernandez, has become the Phillies’ most consistent offensive performer this season. The 26-year-old could be in line for his first big league All-Star nod if his exceptional efforts continue. Through 21 games this season, heading into action on Saturday, Hernandez has tallied a .318 batting average with four doubles, a triple, four home runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases. Hernandez mashed just six homers last season in 155 games played with the Phillies. His surge in power and a solid ability to drive the ball has been attributed to a quality workout program ...