Name: Otto Kemp
Position: 3B
Born: September 9, 1999
Country: US
Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’0″ 185lbs
How Acquired: Non Drafted Free Agent signing by the Phillies after the 2022 Draft
Signed: August 1, 2022
Bonus:
Options Remaining: 3
Rule 5 Eligible: 2025
MiLB Free Agency: 2028
Stats
Prospect Rankings
Role: Corner Infield/Outfield Bench Bat
Risk: Medium – Kemp has more positions listed than he should really play, but he should have enough positional flexibility for a MLB bench. The question is his offense, as he has tapped into his power more, but he has always had more swing and miss vs secondary pitches than would be ideal.
Summary: In his first two pro years Kemp showed intriguing raw power, but had mostly hit line drives and not gotten over the fence. This season, he was able to elevate the ball more and hit 22 home runs between the regular season and the AFL. The power isn’t a mirage either. In the AFL he had an average exit velocity of 94.7 mph, a max of 115.8 mph, and a 90th percentile of 108.4 mph, all of which indicate plus plus raw power. He has generally been a patient hitter, with average in zone contact rates, but a susceptibility to offspeed pitches. It is a fair worry that he has feasted on inferior pitching. He didn’t really have a large enough sample to say whether he will be more of a platoon bat or not. Defensively he has primarily been a second and third baseman, but second has always been more of a stretch, and he is just ok at third. He has started getting time at first base and in left and right field. Being playable in the outfield will be important for his future career, and it looks like it should be possible. There is room for a right handed bat that can play all 4 corners, and stand at second in an emergency, on a modern MLB bench.
2025 Outlook: Kemp will go to AAA where he should be in line for a call up if the Phillies have an injury. He will need to go on the 40 man roster after the season, and he projects to be a home grown version of players like Kody Clemens, Weston Wilson, and Buddy Kennedy.
Role: Corner Infield/Outfield Bench Bat
Risk: Medium – Kemp has more positions listed than he should really play, but he should have enough positional flexibility for a MLB bench. The question is his offense, as he has tapped into his power more, but he has always had more swing and miss vs secondary pitches than would be ideal.
Summary: In his first two pro years Kemp showed intriguing raw power, but had mostly hit line drives and not gotten over the fence. This season, he was able to elevate the ball more and hit 22 home runs between the regular season and the AFL. The power isn’t a mirage either. In the AFL he had an average exit velocity of 94.7 mph, a max of 115.8 mph, and a 90th percentile of 108.4 mph, all of which indicate plus plus raw power. He has generally been a patient hitter, with average in zone contact rates, but a susceptibility to offspeed pitches. It is a fair worry that he has feasted on inferior pitching. He didn’t really have a large enough sample to say whether he will be more of a platoon bat or not. Defensively he has primarily been a second and third baseman, but second has always been more of a stretch, and he is just ok at third. He has started getting time at first base and in left and right field. Being playable in the outfield will be important for his future career, and it looks like it should be possible. There is room for a right handed bat that can play all 4 corners, and stand at second in an emergency, on a modern MLB bench.
2025 Outlook: Kemp will go to AAA where he should be in line for a call up if the Phillies have an injury. He will need to go on the 40 man roster after the season, and he projects to be a home grown version of players like Kody Clemens, Weston Wilson, and Buddy Kennedy.
Season Reports/Highlights
Phillies Minor League Monthly Retrospective – April 2025
In the first month of the year, Otto Kemp hit .315/.414/.685 in AAA which is notable no matter how you slice it. For as stellar as the surface stats are, the underlying numbers are much more muddled. Kemp is hitting the ball hard, his 90th percentile EV (107.9mph) is among league leaders, as is the damage on balls in play. He pulls the ball in the air and he swings at pitches in the zone. However, that swing rate in the zone is part of an overall trend of swinging a lot, as he has gone from patient to free swinger. He chases more than most of the hitters in AAA, he swings and misses on offspeed pitches at a very high rate, and he has a below average contact rate in the zone. Given his lack of pedigree and athleticism, there is real skepticism about his ability to hold up against premium stuff. Right now the gap between the majors and AAA has never been wider and IronPigs hitters on average are facing pitches 2 mph lower than their major league counterparts. Defensively, Kemp has flexibility, but the Phillies have not prioritized getting him LF reps which would be his best path to the majors. His other positions are a struggle, with third probably the best option. Despite all the negatives, Kemp is currently the best hitter in AAA and that is going to eventually give him a chance with the Phillies (an injury is his mostly likely path now) or with another team after a trade. He isn’t a top prospect, but he is on all radars.
Phillies Minor League Recap (Week 2 4/1-4/6)
7-25 2B 3B 2 HR 4 RBI 2 BB 7 K
One of the knocks on Otto Kemp has been whether he can get to his power. He has three home runs already and has a 90th percentile EV of 106.5mph on tracked balls. He is above 80th percentile with that 90th percentile EV, his max EV, and his pulled fly ball rate. To get to that power has come with a big sacrifice. Kemp has one of the lower zone contact rates in AAA and has been swinging and missing at offspeed pitches at an alarmingly high rate. He is going to need to bring the power and miss in harmony because as of right now it looks like big league breaking balls are going to eat him alive. Defensively, Kemp has settled into a rotation between second and third with occasional start at first.
Phillies 2024 Midseason Prospect Ranking and Trade Deadline Preview
Kemp has been one of the best hitter in minor league baseball this year. He is a bit on the older side, and despite struggling last year, he had interesting underlying numbers, including good exit velocities. He is elevating the ball a bit more this year, but his swing and miss has been exposed at Reading. He has some positional versatility, but the defensive reports are mixed. He still has more upside, but approach numbers at Reading give some pause for now.
Phillies Minor League Monthly Retrospective – April 2025
In the first month of the year, Otto Kemp hit .315/.414/.685 in AAA which is notable no matter how you slice it. For as stellar as the surface stats are, the underlying numbers are much more muddled. Kemp is hitting the ball hard, his 90th percentile EV (107.9mph) is among league leaders, as is the damage on balls in play. He pulls the ball in the air and he swings at pitches in the zone. However, that swing rate in the zone is part of an overall trend of swinging a lot, as he has gone from patient to free swinger. He chases more than most of the hitters in AAA, he swings and misses on offspeed pitches at a very high rate, and he has a below average contact rate in the zone. Given his lack of pedigree and athleticism, there is real skepticism about his ability to hold up against premium stuff. Right now the gap between the majors and AAA has never been wider and IronPigs hitters on average are facing pitches 2 mph lower than their major league counterparts. Defensively, Kemp has flexibility, but the Phillies have not prioritized getting him LF reps which would be his best path to the majors. His other positions are a struggle, with third probably the best option. Despite all the negatives, Kemp is currently the best hitter in AAA and that is going to eventually give him a chance with the Phillies (an injury is his mostly likely path now) or with another team after a trade. He isn’t a top prospect, but he is on all radars.
Phillies Minor League Recap (Week 2 4/1-4/6)
7-25 2B 3B 2 HR 4 RBI 2 BB 7 K
One of the knocks on Otto Kemp has been whether he can get to his power. He has three home runs already and has a 90th percentile EV of 106.5mph on tracked balls. He is above 80th percentile with that 90th percentile EV, his max EV, and his pulled fly ball rate. To get to that power has come with a big sacrifice. Kemp has one of the lower zone contact rates in AAA and has been swinging and missing at offspeed pitches at an alarmingly high rate. He is going to need to bring the power and miss in harmony because as of right now it looks like big league breaking balls are going to eat him alive. Defensively, Kemp has settled into a rotation between second and third with occasional start at first.
Phillies 2024 Midseason Prospect Ranking and Trade Deadline Preview
Kemp has been one of the best hitter in minor league baseball this year. He is a bit on the older side, and despite struggling last year, he had interesting underlying numbers, including good exit velocities. He is elevating the ball a bit more this year, but his swing and miss has been exposed at Reading. He has some positional versatility, but the defensive reports are mixed. He still has more upside, but approach numbers at Reading give some pause for now.