Name: Matt Kroon
Position: OF
Born: December 5, 1996
Country: US
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’1″ 195lbs
How Acquired: Drafted in the 18th Round of the 2018 Draft by the Phillies
Signed: June 12, 2018
Bonus: $150,000
Options Remaining: 3
Rule 5 Eligible: 2021
MiLB Free Agency: 2024
Stats
Hitter Statcast
*Statcast data only available for FSL (2021-2023), AAA (2023), and isolated select games and locations.
| Year | Balls in Play | Average EV | 90th Percentile EV | Max EV | Median Launch Angle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 55 | 88.7 | 106.7 | 111.7 | 11 |
Prospect Rankings
Role: Multi Positional RH Bench Bat
Risk: High – Kroon is now 27 and has just 15 games in AAA. He has positional flexibility and some untapped power, but is still very unproven for a player of his age.
Summary: Kroon had the start of a breakout in 2021, and then he tore his ACL in the second game of the 2022 season. He came back healthy to start the 2023 season, but struggled (.255/.323/.400) to start with Reading, but was on fire the rest of the season (.339/.413/.548), though he missed two weeks in the middle of August due to injury. Defensively, he played primarily center field and third base, but mixed in both outfield corners. Third was a bit rough at times, and he primarily should play the corner outfield, but he has good enough speed he can play center in a pinch. At the plate, Kroon hits hard line drives all over the field and could actually stand to elevate it more, as he both did not take advantage of Reading’s home park and posted a relatively low HR/FB rate given how hard he hits the ball. I don’t have his full season batted ball data, but between AAA and Arizona Fall League Kroon had 45 balls in play with an average exit velocity of 88.7 mph and a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.7, with the 90th percentile exit velocity 3rd among Phillies minor leaguers in 2023 (only Clearwater and Lehigh Valley were measured). His median launch angle of 9 degrees shows part of the problem with getting to that power. His approach and contact abilities are solid, but not good enough to be a driving skill. It is a narrow edge between major leaguer and AAAA player, and Kroon is not as good as Matt Vierling, but has more thump in his bat than Dalton Guthrie, though less use of his power than Weston Wilson.
2024 Outlook: Kroon will go to AAA where he will be competing with the back of the 40 man roster to be an injury or performance call up.
Role: Infield/Outfield Bench Bat
Risk: High – Kroon had a short track record of success entering 2022, and then functionally missed the full year. There is not a big skill gap from him to Dalton Guthrie, much higher on this list, but there is a big certainty gap.
Summary: When the pandemic canceled the 2020 season, a bunch of players went away and came back looking like different players. Kroon went from a 4 corners org bat who was struggling in A ball to a legitimate center fielder who could play all 3 outfield positions, plus still be able to handle first and third. He then mashed at AA to end the year, after an injury caused him to get off to a slow start. He entered 2022 as a top priority to watch and see if 2021 was a fluke, and he looked great in Spring Training, hitting some home runs in big league camp and looking like a capable outfielder. Unfortunately 2 games into the AA season he suffered an ankle injury that cost him the rest of the season.
Kroon likely lacks the impact to be an everyday regular, but you don’t need to squint to at least another Dalton Guthrie path (and Kroon and Guthrie were in similar situations entering 2022) where Kroon can reach the 40 man roster and be a MLB bench option at some point. He should be healthy to open the season, and if he can be the guy he looked to be to open 2022, then he could be on a fast track to AAA and right on the cusp of the majors.
2023 Outlook: Kroon will likely return to Reading to open the year, but it is not hard to see him in AAA by the middle of the summer as the Phillies hold onto less of their org depth. The big thing will be whether he can come back healthy and get back on track.
Role: Multi Positional RH Bench Bat
Risk: High – Kroon is now 27 and has just 15 games in AAA. He has positional flexibility and some untapped power, but is still very unproven for a player of his age.
Summary: Kroon had the start of a breakout in 2021, and then he tore his ACL in the second game of the 2022 season. He came back healthy to start the 2023 season, but struggled (.255/.323/.400) to start with Reading, but was on fire the rest of the season (.339/.413/.548), though he missed two weeks in the middle of August due to injury. Defensively, he played primarily center field and third base, but mixed in both outfield corners. Third was a bit rough at times, and he primarily should play the corner outfield, but he has good enough speed he can play center in a pinch. At the plate, Kroon hits hard line drives all over the field and could actually stand to elevate it more, as he both did not take advantage of Reading’s home park and posted a relatively low HR/FB rate given how hard he hits the ball. I don’t have his full season batted ball data, but between AAA and Arizona Fall League Kroon had 45 balls in play with an average exit velocity of 88.7 mph and a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.7, with the 90th percentile exit velocity 3rd among Phillies minor leaguers in 2023 (only Clearwater and Lehigh Valley were measured). His median launch angle of 9 degrees shows part of the problem with getting to that power. His approach and contact abilities are solid, but not good enough to be a driving skill. It is a narrow edge between major leaguer and AAAA player, and Kroon is not as good as Matt Vierling, but has more thump in his bat than Dalton Guthrie, though less use of his power than Weston Wilson.
2024 Outlook: Kroon will go to AAA where he will be competing with the back of the 40 man roster to be an injury or performance call up.
Role: Infield/Outfield Bench Bat
Risk: High – Kroon had a short track record of success entering 2022, and then functionally missed the full year. There is not a big skill gap from him to Dalton Guthrie, much higher on this list, but there is a big certainty gap.
Summary: When the pandemic canceled the 2020 season, a bunch of players went away and came back looking like different players. Kroon went from a 4 corners org bat who was struggling in A ball to a legitimate center fielder who could play all 3 outfield positions, plus still be able to handle first and third. He then mashed at AA to end the year, after an injury caused him to get off to a slow start. He entered 2022 as a top priority to watch and see if 2021 was a fluke, and he looked great in Spring Training, hitting some home runs in big league camp and looking like a capable outfielder. Unfortunately 2 games into the AA season he suffered an ankle injury that cost him the rest of the season.
Kroon likely lacks the impact to be an everyday regular, but you don’t need to squint to at least another Dalton Guthrie path (and Kroon and Guthrie were in similar situations entering 2022) where Kroon can reach the 40 man roster and be a MLB bench option at some point. He should be healthy to open the season, and if he can be the guy he looked to be to open 2022, then he could be on a fast track to AAA and right on the cusp of the majors.
2023 Outlook: Kroon will likely return to Reading to open the year, but it is not hard to see him in AAA by the middle of the summer as the Phillies hold onto less of their org depth. The big thing will be whether he can come back healthy and get back on track.