With their second pick in the 2015 MLB amateur draft (48th overall), the Phillies selected righty batting second baseman Scott Kingery on Monday night. A talented hitter, the five-foot-10 180-pounder was near the top of the NCAA in batting average for much of the season.
Remarkably, Kingery, who was a walk-on as a freshman, was named Pac-12 Player of the Year. This year in his junior season, the 21-year-old posted a .392/.423/.561 slash line while driving in 36 runs and stealing 11 bases in 54 games.
In three seasons with the Wildcats, Kingery batted .351 while driving in 80 runs and stealing 38 bases in 149 games.
Kingery is said to have a short stroke with an ability to spray line drives to all fields. Scouts have him profiling as a top-of-the-order contributor. Considerable speed is also said to be a key tool for the Phoenix native.
Defensively, the youngster played the majority of his sophomore season in center field and was a shortstop in high school, but the Phillies seem comfortable keeping him at second base going forward.
Earlier Monday evening, the Phillies selected high school shortstop Cornelius Randolph with the 10th overall selection.
The draft is slated continue Tuesday with coverage beginning at 12:30 Eastern on MLB.com with rounds three through 10. The draft will conclude Wednesday with rounds 11 through 40.
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