In July of 2022, the Philadelphia Phillies took a chance on a young, undrafted player. The story of this rising Phillies prospect continues to grow as the start of the year brings new experiences. Otto Kemp, a fast riser in the Phillies' farm system, is making a name for himself in spring training.
Kemp was the Phillies' No. 28 prospect a season ago before standing out in the Arizona Fall League and jumping to No. 23 in the farm system heading into the 2025 season. The 25-year-old has continued his success into spring training as a non-roster invitee.
Otto Kemp with a RBI double for the Phillies! pic.twitter.com/Q7E2QAheAl
— Reading Fightin Phils (@ReadingFightins) March 7, 2025
Otto Kemp continues to take advantage of spring training opportunities, setting up potential Phillies impact
He is a utility player, having played games at first, second and third base, along with all three outfield positions throughout his minor league career. Kemp impressed the Phillies enough over the last year to give him a spring training non-roster invite. The utility infielder continues to open eyes, as the right-handed hitter is batting .333, with a .455 on-base percentage and .955 OPS with six hits (three doubles) in 18 at-bats while scoring four runs.
As spring training continues, he is a name to watch and keep tabs on. He has been named to the 2025 MLB Spring Breakout roster for the March 14 game against the Pirates, featuring both teams' prospects battling in a weekend game.
That Otto Kemp double got off the bat at 110.8 miles per hour.
— Alex Carr (@AlexCarrMLB) March 7, 2025
He’s a real name to watch in the Phillies’ farm this season. He seemingly just gets better and better and better as the days go by.
Kemp has faced a lot of adversity throughout his baseball career, dating back to high school. He has faced a blood clot and a torn labrum that kept him sidelined from baseball. He moved his baseball journey to Point Loma Nazarene, a Division II school in California, before being signed by the Phillies as an undrafted free agent.
The Phillies' prospect saw time playing across four minor league levels in 2024, all with the Phillies organization. In total, through all levels, he finished the season a .285 hitter with 16 home runs and 66 RBI. He added 33 extra-base hits between doubles (24) and triples (nine). He continued his season success into the AFL, making a name for himself. He finished the fall league with a .289 average with six home runs, 22 RBI and an OBP of .460 in 15 games.
Kemp continues to take advantage of the opportunities given to him. With the Phillies looking for more right-handed bat help after the injury that sidelined Weston Wilson, Kemp is a name to look out for to make the 40-man roster out of spring training and even potentially seeing him help the big league club at some point throughout the 162-game season.