Otto Kemp
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1999)}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Otto Kemp
|image =
|team = Philadelphia Phillies
|number = 4
|position = Infielder
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|9|9}}
|birth_place = Fullerton, California, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = June 7
|debutyear = 2025
|debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies
|statyear = July 12, 2025
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = Batting average
|stat1value = .259
|stat2label = Home runs
|stat2value = 1
|stat3label = Runs batted in
|stat3value = 11
|teams =
- Philadelphia Phillies ({{by|2025}}–present)
}}
Otto Severson Kemp (born September 9, 1999) is an American professional baseball infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB).
Career
Kemp attended Troy High School in Fullerton, California and played college baseball at Point Loma Nazarene University. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted free agent in 2022.{{cite web |last1=Coffey |first1=Alex | url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/undrafted-otto-kemp-develops-well-rounded-game-for-phillies/ | title=Undrafted Otto Kemp Develops Well-Rounded Game for Phillies |work=Baseball America |date=July 11, 2024 }}
Kemp spent his first professional season with the rookie-level Florida Complex League Phillies and Single-A Clearwater Threshers. He played 2023 with Clearwater and the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws and 2024 with Clearwater, Jersey Shore, the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils and Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.{{cite web |last1=Coffey |first1=Alex | url=https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillies-otto-kemp-prospects-arizona-fall-league-roster-20241114.html |work=Philadelphia Inquirer | title=Otto Kemp's strong fall league is a 'continuation' of his 2024 season. What's his outlook with the Phillies in 2025? | date=November 14, 2024 }} After the 2024 season he played in the Arizona Fall League for the Glendale Desert Dogs.{{cite web |first1=Jesse |last1=Borek |date=October 15, 2024 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-otto-kemp-makes-name-for-himself-in-arizona-fall-league | title=Undrafted, Philly's No. 28 prospect making name for himself in Fall League | website=MLB.com }} Returning to Triple-A to start the 2025 season, Kemp was named the International League Player of the Month for April, slashing .330/.421/.711 during the month.{{cite news |title=Otto Kemp Named April International League Player of the Month |url=https://www.milb.com/news/otto-kemp-named-april-international-league-player-of-the-month |access-date=June 7, 2025 |work=MiLB.com |date=May 5, 2025}}
On June 7, 2025, Kemp was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time, replacing an injured Bryce Harper, and debuted at third base.{{cite news |title=Phillies place Bryce Harper on IL with wrist inflammation |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45470274/phillies-place-bryce-harper-il-wrist-inflammation |access-date=June 7, 2025 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN.com |date=June 7, 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Casella |first1=Paul |title=Phils place Harper on IL with same wrist injury as last year |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/bryce-harper-placed-on-injured-list-otto-kemp-promoted |access-date=June 7, 2025 |publisher=MLB.com |date=June 7, 2025}} He was the first undrafted position player to debut with the Phillies since Jeff Grotewold in 1992.{{cite news |first1=Anthony |last1=SanFilippo |title=Otto Kemp makes Phillies debut After late-night call-up and cross-country family dash |url=https://downbeach.com/news/2025/jun/07/otto-kemp-makes-phillies-debut-after-late-night-call-up-and-cross-country-family-dash/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |publisher=Downbeach.com |date=June 7, 2025}} On June 9, Kemp recorded his first career hit when hit a single into left field off of pitcher Matthew Boyd in the bottom of the fifth inning. In the same game, Kemp recorded his first multi-hit game with three hits by going 3-for-5 in a Phillies 4-3 victory in extra innings over the Chicago Cubs.{{Cite web|title=Kemp collects first MLB hit, plays key part in Phils' walk-off win|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-earn-walk-off-win-over-cubs|last=Casella|first=Paul|website=MLB.com|date=June 10, 2025}} One June 27, Kemp recorded his career first home run when Kemp hit a three-run homer off Braves pitcher Bryce Elder in the top of the third inning.{{Cite web |last=Casella |first=Paul |title=Miss home intentionally?! How Turner (briefly) considered getting his 4th cycle |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/trea-turner-misses-out-on-4th-cycle-with-2nd-home-run |date=June 28, 2025 |access-date=June 29, 2025}}
Personal life
Kemp's parents are Rob and Diane.{{cite news |last1=Casella |first1=Paul |title='Completely surreal': Phils prospect Kemp makes MLB debut after late-night callup |url=https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/phillies-prospect-otto-kemp-makes-mlb-debut |access-date=June 7, 2025 |publisher=MLB.com |date=June 7, 2025}} He has three siblings, including an older sister who is a life coach.{{cite news |last1=Housenick |first1=Tom |title=Resilient Otto Kemp proving Phillies right by taking a chance on him |url=https://www.mainlinemedianews.com/2025/04/11/resilient-otto-kemp-proving-phillies-right-by-taking-a-chance-on-him/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |work=Times & Suburban |date=April 11, 2024}} His elder brother Sam also attended and played baseball at Troy.{{cite news |title=Coming Back Stronger: Otto Kemp’s Baseball Journey |url=https://viewpoint.pointloma.edu/coming-back-stronger-otto-kemps-baseball-journey/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |work=Viewpoint |publisher=Point Loma Nazarene University |date=April 15, 2024}} Kemp is married to Lily.{{cite news |last1=Lauber |first1=Scott |title=Otto Kemp makes his major league debut with his family in attendance: ‘Everybody’s pulling for him’ |url=https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/otto-kemp-phillies-major-league-debut-pirates-20250607.html |access-date=June 7, 2025 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |date=June 7, 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats||brm=kemp--000ott}}
{{Philadelphia Phillies roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kemp, Otto}}
Category:Baseball players from Fullerton, California
Category:Clearwater Threshers players
Category:Florida Complex League Phillies players
Category:Glendale Desert Dogs players
Category:Jersey Shore BlueClaws players
Category:Lehigh Valley IronPigs players
Category:Major League Baseball infielders
Category:Philadelphia Phillies players
Category:Point Loma Nazarene Sea Lions baseball players
Category:Reading Fightin Phils players