Division II to the Phillies: Otto Kemp’s Unlikely Path
A Blog By Robbie
Otto Kemp’s time has officially arrived, the 24th ranked prospect in the Phillies system has received the call to the show. The 24th ranked prospect may not seem too intriguing, but 14 home runs and a 1.010 OPS which is good enough for the Triple-A International League leader in those respective categories speaks for itself… that should catch your attention. The move corresponds with Bryce Harper being sent to the injured list with wrist inflammation, but if Otto has performed like he has been with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, then we may see him stay for good. His strong case for a long-term role is supported by the fact that he is an extremely versatile defender, with reps in four different spots this season in just 57 games.
Otto’s Road to the Show
Otto Kemp, a Fullerton, California native, signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an unsigned free agent in August 2022 after going unselected in the 2022 MLB Draft. Kemp played college baseball at Point Loma Nazarene University, a San Diego-based Division II program. At the age of 22 (in 2022), he posted a mind-boggling slash line of.403/.467/.678 with 17 home runs, 67 runs batted in, and a 1.145 OPS in 52 games which earned him the All-PacWest First Team honors. Despite his phenomenal stats, Kemp's age and the Division II competition likely had something to do with him not getting drafted. That being said, the Phillies saw potential in his raw power, versatility in the field and athleticism, signing him to a minor league deal shortly after the draft. Kemp stayed incredibly resilient in his early years. He overcame significant injuries in high school (knee) and college (a blood clot in 2019 and a torn labrum in 2020), which limited his exposure to scouts and, another reason to believe that he went undrafted.
Fast forward to 2024, Kemp showcased his offensive tool kit across four levels of the Phillies’ minor league system. Between those levels, he slashed .285/.392/.489 with an .881 OPS, 16 home runs, and 66 RBIs in 123 games. In 2025, Kemp kept it rolling with Lehigh Valley, posting a .317/.417/.602 slash line, 14 home runs, and 55 RBI in 57 games. Kemp’s profile blends contact and power, although he struggles with off speed. In 2024, he showcased his disciplined approach across four minor league levels, posting a 9.8% walk rate although he struggled with the strikeouts, displaying a 21.2% strikeout rate. His power shines through with a 91.2 mph average exit velocity, a 45.6% hard-hit rate, and a 13.9% barrel rate per Eric Cross which helped him to drive 14 home runs and a 1.010 OPS.
StS (Scout the Statline) projects Otto Kemp with 50’s across the board (hit, power, and speed). They project Otto to keep up the power surge, highlighted by 15 bombs at the major league level. Their projected slash line for Otto is .229/.316/.378 with a 96.7 wRC+. StS projects that he’ll drive in 59 RBI for Philadelphia, while maintaining a solid walk rate of 8%.
Where He’ll Fit In
In 2025, Kemp played second base, third base, first base, and right field with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, giving Phillies manager Rob Thomson an immense amount of flexibility to deploy him across the field. Initially, Kemp’s role will most likely focus on maximizing his bat. We could see him in a platoon role with Bryson Stott at second base or Alex Bohm at third, so that those guys get some rest. We could also see Kemp make some starts in right field to give Nick Castellanos a breather, especially against left-handed pitching. The NL East leading Phillies, will view Kemp as a spark to maintain their offensive power. If his toolkit translates to the majors, he could evolve into a super-utility role, contributing as a right-handed complement to the lineup and potentially sticking far beyond Harper’s return.