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Phillies Prospect Gets Exciting Update Amid Bryce Harper News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sam Bernardi | Last updated Jun 24, 2025 11:15 AM ET

When Otto Kemp received the call-up from the Philadelphia Phillies, it was seen as a temporary move.

First baseman Bryce Harper has been sidelined with a right wrist injury for nearly all of June, and Kemp was a logical solution. The Phillies’ No. 24 prospect, however, could find himself as a fixture even upon Harper’s pending return.

“The Phillies seem intent on finding out whether Kemp is a viable option in left field,” Paul Casella of MLB.com wrote. “If so, that would provide a way for the team to keep him in the lineup even once Bryce Harper (right wrist inflammation) returns from the injured list.”

Kemp has put together a solid start at the plate during his debut campaign. The 25-year-old has a .260 batting average, a .647 OPS, and an 80 OPS+ through 50 at-bats. He has not hit a home run, and his 1:15 BB:K ratio leaves more to be desired.

But Kemp is also a versatile defender and is still acclimating to Big League pitching. Of his 125 innings played, 83 have come at first base, 36 at third base, and six in left field. That brief outing could be a sign of things to come.

Philadelphia has seen underwhelming results from its new left fielder, Max Kepler, as he is batting .211 with a .691 OPS, an 89 OPS+, and nine home runs over 232 at-bats. Perhaps manager Rob Thomson opts for a platoon between the left-handed hitting Kepler and the right-handed hitting Kemp.

Another, lesser-talked-about option is dangling Kemp at the trade deadline. The Phillies appear inclined to resolve their outfield issues internally, but maybe Kemp has shown other franchises enough during his brief period to garner a more immediate contributor.

On the other hand, this is an aging core, and sacrificing even mid-to-low-level prospects is not without risk.

For now, it is up to Kemp to earn his stay in Philadelphia.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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