Name: Kehden Hettiger
Position: C
Born: May 25, 2004
Country: US
Bats/Throws: S/R
Height/Weight: 6’2″ 205lbs
How Acquired: Drafted in the 11th Round of the 2023 Draft by the Phillies
Signed: July 18, 2023
Bonus: $397,500
Options Remaining: 3
Rule 5 Eligible: 2026
MiLB Free Agency: 2029
Stats
Prospect Rankings
Role: Backup Catcher
Risk: High – Hettiger showed a lot of improvement on both sides of the ball in his second full season, but there are questions about both his ability to catch and ability to hit.
Overview: Hettiger’s first full season went about as bad as it could have gone, but 2025 was a step in the correct direction. After going 5 for 53 vs LHPs as a switch hitter last year, Hettiger only hit from the left side in 2025, going a more respectable 17 for 82 as a lefty against left handed pitching. He still has platoon splits, but it was a clear move from disaster to just poor while also cutting down on the number of swings he needed to maintain. He also traded extreme passivity and good contact abilities for still a patient, but more balanced approach with a bit more swing and miss in it. He still has a bit of an upper cut swing, which keeps the ball off the ground and has holes for pitchers to exploit, but allows him to maximize the power on the contact he does make. He caught nearly two thirds of the games he played in this year, up from about 50% in 2024. He also greatly improved as a thrower, nearly doubling his caught stealing percent. He still looks a bit stiff behind the plate, but he has a real chance to stick at the position. It is likely, like most young catchers, that Hettiger’s bat will be what lags, and his ceiling is probably a low batting average backup catcher who will take a walk and occasionally put a charge into one.
Hettiger struggled at and behind the plate, seeing more time at first base than behind the plate. He did not hit the ball particularly hard, and he showed below average contact abilities. He offset some of this by not chasing, but also at the cost of being too passive overall.
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Hettiger is a high school catcher, one of the riskiest archetypes, and has some swing and hit tool concerns. He looks like he should stick at the position and has enough power to have offensive upside.
Summary: Hettiger is a solidly built switch hitting high school catcher from California. He has some length to his swing, but good bat speed from both sides of the plate. His strength will lead to solid power, and he has a good approach at the plate. Behind the plate, he didn’t look terrible, but he is already pretty large, and receiving and blocking are things he has to work on. He has a plus arm, popping sub 2.00 pop times in the FCL. Hettiger was on the older side for a high schooler and his body is mature already. The Phillies gave him a 5th round level bonus, and he has the talent of a mid Day 2 pick. He could be an everyday catcher, but he is going to need to hit at every level and get his defense at least to average, and with framing being deemphasized by automated strike zones his arm will be an asset.
2024 Outlook: The Phillies have a decent number of catchers between Extended Spring Training and Florida Complex League. Hettiger may end up splitting time between both levels as the Phillies shuffle players up and down between the two levels.
Role: Backup Catcher
Risk: High – Hettiger showed a lot of improvement on both sides of the ball in his second full season, but there are questions about both his ability to catch and ability to hit.
Overview: Hettiger’s first full season went about as bad as it could have gone, but 2025 was a step in the correct direction. After going 5 for 53 vs LHPs as a switch hitter last year, Hettiger only hit from the left side in 2025, going a more respectable 17 for 82 as a lefty against left handed pitching. He still has platoon splits, but it was a clear move from disaster to just poor while also cutting down on the number of swings he needed to maintain. He also traded extreme passivity and good contact abilities for still a patient, but more balanced approach with a bit more swing and miss in it. He still has a bit of an upper cut swing, which keeps the ball off the ground and has holes for pitchers to exploit, but allows him to maximize the power on the contact he does make. He caught nearly two thirds of the games he played in this year, up from about 50% in 2024. He also greatly improved as a thrower, nearly doubling his caught stealing percent. He still looks a bit stiff behind the plate, but he has a real chance to stick at the position. It is likely, like most young catchers, that Hettiger’s bat will be what lags, and his ceiling is probably a low batting average backup catcher who will take a walk and occasionally put a charge into one.
Hettiger struggled at and behind the plate, seeing more time at first base than behind the plate. He did not hit the ball particularly hard, and he showed below average contact abilities. He offset some of this by not chasing, but also at the cost of being too passive overall.
Role: Average Regular
Risk: Extreme – Hettiger is a high school catcher, one of the riskiest archetypes, and has some swing and hit tool concerns. He looks like he should stick at the position and has enough power to have offensive upside.
Summary: Hettiger is a solidly built switch hitting high school catcher from California. He has some length to his swing, but good bat speed from both sides of the plate. His strength will lead to solid power, and he has a good approach at the plate. Behind the plate, he didn’t look terrible, but he is already pretty large, and receiving and blocking are things he has to work on. He has a plus arm, popping sub 2.00 pop times in the FCL. Hettiger was on the older side for a high schooler and his body is mature already. The Phillies gave him a 5th round level bonus, and he has the talent of a mid Day 2 pick. He could be an everyday catcher, but he is going to need to hit at every level and get his defense at least to average, and with framing being deemphasized by automated strike zones his arm will be an asset.
2024 Outlook: The Phillies have a decent number of catchers between Extended Spring Training and Florida Complex League. Hettiger may end up splitting time between both levels as the Phillies shuffle players up and down between the two levels.