While we still have some time to wait for Major League Baseball’s prestigious year-end awards, it’s the time of the year when end-of-season awards and accolades are handed out for minor leaguers. Each September, the Philadelphia Phillies recognize their minor league players by awarding the organization’s Paul Owens Award to two deserving individuals.
On Monday, the Phillies announced this year’s recipients. The Minor League Player of the Year is Otto Kemp, who fans of the big league team are very familiar with. The other winner will force some fans to shake off the cobwebs from the ol’ memory bank.
Former top prospect Griff McGarry and Otto Kemp named Phillies' Paul Owens Award recipients
The Phillies’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year is right-hander Griff McGarry. If the name sounds familiar, it should — McGarry was once a highly touted top prospect in the Phillies system, ranked as high as No. 3 in 2023. If the name sounds vaguely familiar but your memory is a little fuzzy, that’s okay too — McGarry had a drastic fall from grace from his once high perch in MLB Pipeline’s rankings.
Griff McGarry and Otto Kemp have been selected as the 2025 recipients of the Paul Owens Award! pic.twitter.com/caP0gzFY74
— Phillies Player Development (@PhilsPlayerDev) September 22, 2025
After becoming merely an afterthought in the prospect talent pool, McGarry just put together an impressive bounceback year. The 2021 fifth-round draft pick completely fell off MLB Pipeline’s Phillies Top 30 rankings before this season.
In 17 starts for Double-A Reading, McGarry posted a 3.25 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 103 strikeouts in 72 innings. He earned a late-season promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley where he delivered with a strong start last week. He allowed just one run on one hit with eight strikeouts and two walks over five innings.
The 26-year-old finished the minor league season with a 3.44 ERA and 13.34 K/9 in 21 starts (he made three outings in Single-A Clearwater after missing time with injury). With a 5.27 BB/9, he still walked too many but it was a big improvement on his 10.23 BB/9 in 2024 that led to his fall down the organizational depth chart.
As for Kemp, the undrafted rookie forced the Phillies’ hand with a stellar season in Triple-A. In 74 games with the IronPigs, he hit .310 with a .987 OPS, 16 home runs, 67 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
Kemp earned his promotion and made his MLB debut early in June. After a quick return to Lehigh Valley he's back up for his second stint with the big club, currently hitting .235 with a .690 OPS, six homers and 24 RBIs in 187 at-bats in the majors.
Another RBI 4 Otto! pic.twitter.com/WV95ja5WPP
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 12, 2025
The Phillies usually acknowledge their Paul Owens Award recipients during the final homestand of the season. While Kemp will already be here as the Phillies return home to open a series with the Miami Marlins on Tuesday, McGarry will likely join him at Citizens Bank Park to receive the well-deserved honor and give fans a chance to refresh their memories.