After initially sounding fairly positive that Bryce Harper just needed to rest his injured right wrist, the Philadelphia Phillies placed their superstar first baseman on the 10-day IL (retroactive to June 6) on Saturday morning, per MLB.com's Paul Casella. Despite the obvious concern about Harper's wrist health, the corresponding roster move should have Phillies fans excited.
Otto Kemp, the team's No. 24 MLB Pipeline prospect, has been added to the 40-man roster and called up to the active roster ahead of the Phillies' game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 25-year-old, in his first full season with the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, has done everything the Phillies could have asked for and has had fans clamoring for a call-up all year.
The Phillies also announced that right-hander Daniel Robert has been recalled, and right-hander Alan Rangel was optioned back to Triple-A after making his MLB debut on Friday.
Today the Phillies selected the contract of INF/OF Otto Kemp from Lehigh Valley (AAA). 1B Bryce Harper was placed on the 10-day IL (retro to 6/6) with right wrist inflammation. RHP Daniel Robert was recalled from LV. Following last night’s game, RHP Alan Rangel was optioned to…
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 7, 2025
Bryce Harper heading to the IL with a wrist injury finally opens a roster spot for hot-hitting prospect Otto Kemp
Harper's wrist injury came to light ahead of Friday's game with the Pirates, as he was held out of the lineup. He hit a home run on Tuesday in his first game back from getting beaned by Spencer Strider, but went 0-for-10 with five strikeouts through the rest of the three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Kemp, an undrafted signee by the Phillies in 2022, has been ripping apart Triple-A pitching this season. Through 58 games, he's batting .313 with a 1.010 OPS and leads the International League with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs. He also has 11 stolen bases in 13 attempts.
Otto Kemp 🔥
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 20, 2025
The @Phillies' No. 24 prospect mashes his league-leading 11th dinger for the @IronPigs and is batting .329 with a whopping 1.053 OPS this season. pic.twitter.com/UMCLjwEHrB
Primarily an infielder who has spent most of his time manning third base, Kemp has also been learning to play the outfield this year. He has appeared in 36 games at the hot corner and 11 at second base for the IronPigs this season, with seven starts in left field.
It remains to be seen how Phillies manager Rob Thomson will deploy the right-handed hitting Kemp in the lineup and on the field. With Harper on the shelf, everyday third baseman Alec Bohm will shift to first base full-time, opening up a hole at third for Kemp to play his natural position.