It’s Time: The Phillies Need to Call Up Otto Kemp

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are rolling at 22-8, and no one is driving that freight train harder than Otto Kemp. The 25-year-old slugger is mashing in Triple-A, forcing his way into the conversation for a big-league call-up, and frankly, the Phillies would be insane not to give him a shot.

Otto Kemp has Video Game Numbers:

.327/.427/.712 slash line
9 home runs, 27 RBI in just 27 games
197 wRC+, .489 wOBA, and a 1.139 OPS (second-best in the International League)
.375 average with RISP
League-best 25.7% HR/FB rate

We’re not talking about some fluke hot streak either. Kemp’s performance dates back to last year, when he posted a 148 wRC+ across four levels of the minors, then raked in the Arizona Fall League, and followed it up with a killer Spring Training. This dude has done everything you can ask for and then some.

Not to mention, I’ve been requesting a call to The Show for the past month while everyone else called me crazy for doing so. I’m not crazy. I’m right. If we’re being honest, I’m pretty much always right about anything that comes to Phillies baseball and instead of accepting it the first time around, I’m pushed to the side and laughed at until a month later, when everyone starts saying the exact same thing as me. Go figure.

Otto Kemp’s long road to Lehigh Valley will end in South Philly sooner than you think

WATCH: Otto Kemp gets hit by a pitch FOUR times last night in Lehigh Valley

The Opportunity Is There

Brandon Marsh is finishing up his rehab assignment, and based on production alone, there’s no reason to rush him back. Marsh is batting .095 on the year with a 17 wRC+ and has shown little improvement in his four-game minor league stint.

It’s not just a slump — he’s looked completely out of sync. Marsh still has two options left, and sending him to Triple-A to work on his swing wouldn’t be out of line, no matter what that certain segment of (nauseating) Phillies fans what you to think.

That opens the door for Otto Kemp.

Cal Stevenson is the likely roster casualty once Marsh is activated — unless the Phillies pivot. With Kemp making recent starts in left field, it’s possible the Phillies are prepping him to take over the Weston Wilson utility role, giving them a legitimate bat off the bench who can rotate into the outfield. In the meantime, Marsh could reset in Triple-A without the pressure of trying to fix things.

Today would be a great day to call up Otto Kemp! Here are his stats this season for AAA Lehigh Valley:

27 G | 104 AB | 34 H | 11 2B | 9 HR | 27 RBI | 12 BB | 28 K | .327/.427/.712pic.twitter.com/GIDSL9VrvX
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) April 30, 2025

Why Wait?

The Phillies’ outfield offense has been shaky at best, with Kyle Schwarber carrying the power load and inconsistent production elsewhere. Kemp brings something different — a high-OBP, power-hitting threat with positional versatility and momentum behind him. He’s already shown the ability to adjust at every level. The only thing left is to see what he can do in red pinstripes.

Also worth noting: the Phillies don’t have a full 40-man roster. No corresponding move is even necessary to bring Kemp up. The runway is clear. Let the kid cook.

Otto Kemp hits his 9th Home Run of the season and his second of the game! pic.twitter.com/N2RCGqB27H
— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) April 30, 2025

Otto Kemp is exactly the kind of bat you want to ride while he’s hot. With the way he’s been producing in Lehigh Valley, it’s hard to imagine him giving you less than what the Phillies have gotten from Marsh or Stevenson so far.

I think we are at a point where we call Up Otto Kemp To play LF and Move Kepler To CF
pic.twitter.com/o5puXjOQYR
— Philly Archive (@PhillyArchive) April 28, 2025

Give the man a locker. The Otto Kemp era might be closer than you think.

Gear up in the shop >>