The Phillies decided they did not want to wait for Scott Kingery, the 2015 second-round pick who has provided so much electricity in his second spring training.
So instead of delaying the start to his major-league career in order to prevent his free-agent eligibility, they simply decided to give him a six-year contract that will take him at least through the 2023 season and likely beyond.
Kingery, 23, will open the season as an extra man, a job he proved he could handle by playing second base, shortstop and third base in addition to the outfield. Kingery went into Sunday’s exhibition game against Baltimore hitting .