Philly Leader

Otto Kemp, a rising prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, is making waves in the Arizona Fall League. Despite being undrafted out of Point Loma Nazarene University, Kemp has climbed to No. 28 on the Phillies' Top 30 Prospects list.

Reflecting on his journey, Kemp stated, “I still remember that Draft Day. That was a tough day but I'm forever gonna be thankful for the Phillies and them for giving me this opportunity.” He emphasized his gratitude towards the team and his determination to continue working hard.

Kemp's performance in 2024 across all full-season affiliates of the Phillies led him to the Fall League. His recent two-homer game at Peoria Sports Complex contributed significantly to a 19-9 victory for the Desert Dogs over the Javelinas. Kemp remarked on his team's success by saying, “Hitting is contagious.”

After overcoming an oblique injury earlier this year, Kemp excelled with Single-A Clearwater before moving up through High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading. His achievements included a .333/.440/.533 slash line and 11 home runs at Reading, eventually earning him a stint with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Kemp has faced numerous challenges throughout his career due to injuries, including knee issues in high school and shoulder problems in college. Despite these setbacks, he has remained focused on reaching Major League Baseball (MLB). While Point Loma Nazarene University has produced MLB pitchers like Marty Decker and Mike Ekstrom, no position player from there has yet achieved an MLB hit—a milestone Kemp aims to reach.

Looking ahead, Kemp expressed excitement about participating in the Fall League: “At the beginning of the year, I knew it was a possibility -- that was something that I was aiming for.”