They would appear worlds aside. Cubs infielder Scott Kingery, No. 12 in your scorecard and 32 years outdated on the finish of the month, has performed simply 74 video games within the massive leagues this decade, simply three pinch-running appearances as far as a Cub. His big-league existence is everyday. He has spent virtually all the final three seasons within the minors.
In the opposite dugout, Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, the anointed one, 20 years outdated in a dozen days, a shortstop of appreciable dimension (6-foot-3, 222 kilos), limitless potential, and virtually unimaginable monetary safety for a participant of his expertise. Five days into his major-league profession, Griffin signed a nine-year, $140 million contract, so assured are the Pirates that he’s destined for stardom.
“He’s tremendous proficient,’’ stated Jed Hoyer, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations. “Obviously, he was a man we talked about within the draft, and he’s had as quick a improvement path as I can ever bear in mind. He’s an thrilling younger star within the sport, and it’ll be enjoyable to observe him in particular person.’’
Hoyer shouldn’t be the one member of his household enchanted by Griffin. He stated his children went on the Pirates’ web site, searching for gear.
“I feel [the Pirates] simply dropped their City Connect yesterday, and my children have been taking a look at it and his stuff, and it was bought out in virtually each possible means,’’ Hoyer stated. “It’s nice for baseball to have younger gamers like this, that individuals are so enthusiastic about.’’
You can look far and extensive within the Wrigleyville memento outlets, and also you gained’t discover a Scott Kingery Cubs jersey. But it wasn’t so way back, when Kingery was often called Scotty Jetpax, he was being favorably in comparison with former MVP and four-time All-Star Dustin Pedroia and was the toast of Philadelphia. Scott Kingery was judged a star within the making, even before he had performed a single day within the massive leagues.
At the top of spring coaching in 2018, the Phillies signed Kingery to a six-year, $24 million deal. He was 23 years outdated when he made a profitable big-league debut, with two hits and a stolen base. He was on his means…till he wasn’t. His rookie season was a wrestle, compounded by enjoying an unfamiliar place [shortstop instead of second base]. He rebounded in 2019 together with his greatest season within the massive leagues, posting a .788 OPS with 19 residence runs, however was worn out within the pandemic in 2020, contracting a virulent case of coronavirus.
When he struggled in spring coaching in 2021, he was demoted to Triple-A and the street again proved a tough one, difficult by ineffectiveness and a string of well being points, together with season-ending shoulder surgical procedure in 2021 that precipitated him to overlook the beginning of the next season. In 2024, Scotty Jetpax was traded to the Angels, the place he performed simply 19 video games.
The Cubs signed him as a minor-league free agent final December.
In a quiet Cubs clubhouse the opposite morning, Kingery mirrored on his expertise of not assembly exalted expectations, the safety that got here with the contract and the pressures written into the superb print.
“I feel at first individuals are going to be excited to get a have a look at the one who simply signed the contract,’’ Kingery stated. “If you exit on the sphere and guarantee that you could play somewhat bit, I don’t assume they give thought to the contract. For me, I feel that got here somewhat later.’’
The contract grew to become a cudgel when Kingery struggled.
“I feel lots of people would have a look at it and say, you simply signed a contract, you’ve assured cash,’’ he stated. “No want to fret, simply go and play baseball. For me, since I had by no means performed within the massive leagues, I feel there was somewhat extra strain on myself to show that I used to be value what they simply paid me, to dwell as much as the contract and play as much as the contract.
“But wanting again on it, after I was on the sphere I wasn’t fascinated with that. I used to be tremendous excited, however on the similar time it was like, ‘OK, they pay me for a reason, I want to go out in the field and show why.’’
For Connor Griffin, simply as there as soon as was for Scott Kingery, the road between desires fulfilled and hopes dashed is a slim one.
Cubs veteran second baseman Nico Hoerner, for one, believes the danger is value it for the Pirates.
“We’ve seen gamers up to now that debut at a younger age and go on to have superb careers,’’ Hoerner stated. “Obviously the group has a ton of confidence in him, and his talent set is so spectacular throughout all components of the sport, from protection to base working and energy. He looks as if an straightforward participant to consider in general.’’
