The 2025 season has been full of memorable achievements for Philadelphia Phillies rookie Otto Kemp. In June, the rookie utility man accomplished every player's dream by reaching the big leagues in an unconventional way, as an undrafted free agent. Though he failed to hit his way into a backup role in the majors after an impressive start, Kemp is once again thriving for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs and setting records along the way.
Kemp has torn up Triple-A pitching this season, hitting .315/.417/.581 with 15 home runs. His stellar season got even more impressive, as he's now the owner of an IronPigs franchise record, although it's a painful one.
Otto Kemp sets IronPigs' franchise record for most hit-by-pitches in a single season
He got beaned with a pitch for the 19th time this season on Friday in Lehigh Valley's 11-4 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers, the most in team history. The IronPigs' social media team celebrated the record with a hilarious graphic honoring Kemp's uncanny ability.
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN OTTO KEMP HAS DONE IT#ironpigs #phillies #franchiserecord #milb pic.twitter.com/AKF6v7d1jm
— Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) August 30, 2025
Being a ball magnet is nothing new to Kemp. He has been plunked with a pitch 66 times over four seasons in the minors, including a wild 29 times in 529 plate appearances last season. If it seems like Kemp's knack for getting hit carried over to the majors this season, it's because it did, and at an even greater rate. Kemp registered seven hit-by-pitches in 161 plate appearances with the Phillies.
If you were wondering, the Phillies' franchise record for hit-by-pitches in a single season belongs to Chase Utley, of course. He's all over the franchise leaderboard for times hit in a season, with his 27 in 2008 leading the way. Utley's overall franchise record of 173 hit-by-pitches with the Phillies is astonishingly almost 100 more than the next player, Mike Lieberthal.
Kemp has quite a long way to go if he wants to surpass Utley's Phillies record. He would only need to plunked by 167 more pitches over the remainder of his Phillies career to become their all-time HBP king. Although that won't happen, Kemp could add to his total as a potential September call-up for the Phillies.