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MLB notebook: Phillies give Kingery record contract

[March 26, 2018] The Phillies signed infield prospect Scott Kingery to a reported record contract, likely ensuring that he will make the major league roster for Opening Day.

The 23-year-old, primarily a second baseman in his minor league career, inked a six-year contract through 2023, the team announced. The deal includes club options covering Kingery's first three free agent years in 2024-26, according to Fanrag's Jon Heyman.

Jon Morosi of MLB.com reports the contract guarantees $24 million for Kingery, and a source told Phillies.com's Todd Zolecki that Kingery will start the 2018 season in the majors.

Kingery is just the second player ever to receive a long-term major league contract despite never having played in the big leagues. The Houston Astros gave Jon Singleton a five-year, $10 million guarantee in 2014, although the prospect has never panned out in the majors.

--Texas Rangers minor league hitting instructor Howard Johnson was released from a hospital after sustaining several fractures in his left cheekbone in a scary incident at a spring training game on Saturday.

Johnson, 57, was taken out of the team's dugout via stretcher after being hit in the face by a foul ball hit by Indians shortstop Erik Gonzalez in the fourth inning. He was examined by team medical personnel in the dugout, removed from the area on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital.

According to a Rangers statement: "It does not appear that Johnson will require surgery at this time. He was released and will undergo rest and continued evaluation at his residence in Arizona for a period of a week, when he will be re-examined."

--The St. Louis Cardinals will open the season with veteran right-hander Adam Wainwright on the disabled list, according to manager Mike Matheny.

Wainwright was scratched from his Sunday start against the Washington Nationals with a left hamstring injury sustained during conditioning drills.

Team president John Mozeliak said Wainwright would undergo further evaluation and that the injury is "hopefully not serious" when talking to St. Louis radio station KMOX 1120. Michael Wacha will move up to make Wainwright's starts, while rookie right-hander Jack Flaherty will be the team's No. 5 starter heading into the season.

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--Ty Blach was fretting about making the San Francisco Giants' roster when spring training commenced. Now, he will be the team's Opening Day starter.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy tabbed the left-handed Blach as the starter for Thursday's opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers, one day after staff ace left-hander Madison Bumgarner underwent surgery on his pitching hand. Blach certainly didn't see that honor coming.

"Obviously, with the circumstances, it's tough losing Bum," Blach told reporters, "but it's an honor to get that nod and go out there and give everything we've got."

--Outfielder Michael Brantley will start the season on the disabled list, the Cleveland Indians announced.

Brantley is recovering from offseason ankle surgery and saw his first action of spring training last week. He homered in his first at-bat in his return on Wednesday, but the Indians will take a cautious approach to bringing him back full-time.

The 30-year-old missed most of 2016 with an injury but bounced back last season with nine home runs, 47 runs, 52 RBIs and a .299 average over 90 games before being derailed by the ankle injury.

--The Seattle Mariners re-signed left-hander Wade LeBlanc just days after he was released by the New York Yankees.

LeBlanc, who pitched for Seattle in 2016, went 5-2 with a 4.50 ERA and one save in 50 relief appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates last year.

--The Atlanta Braves signed outfielder Peter Bourjos to a one-year contract, according to multiple reports.

The deal is reportedly worth $1 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors.com. Bourjos was released by the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

--Field Level Media

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