Sep 23, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first base Otto Kemp (4) celebrates his two-run home run in the dugout during the second inning against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA - It's been one heck of an adventure for Otto Kemp to get to Monday night.
The undrafted free agent made a steady climb through the Phillies organization and earned his first Big League call up in June when Bryce Harper went on the I.L. with wrist inflammation.
In his second game in the Majors, Kemp had to face Paul Skenes. After an impressive first few weeks, Kemp scuffled, and was eventually sent back down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in mid-August.
But he wasn't gone long, and was recalled three weeks later for the playoff push.
He once again found his form at the plate and in his final 16 games of the season, he hit .250 but posted an .856 OPS. He was playing and doing damage mostly against lefties.
It impressed the Phillies enough that he was included on their NLDS roster.
And now, he's in the lineup for a must-win Game 2 of the NLDS against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
"It definitely wasn't on my bingo card at the start of the year," Kemp said. "But that's the beauty of the sport. You never know where it's going to take you, exactly."
#Phillies utility player Otto Kemp before his MLB postseason debut.@KYWNewsradio pic.twitter.com/JT0TuHM17H
Kemp gets the nod over Weston Wilson in a revamped Phillies outfield with Harrison Bader not in the lineup after suffering a mild groin strain while running the bases in Game 1. Brandon Marsh starts in centerfield, despite lefty Blake Snell pitching for the Dodgers. Nick Castellanos gets the nod in right.
That said, Kemp would probably have been in the lineup regardless of Bader getting injured or not. It's Marsh who is starting against a lefty in a role the Phillies had not planned to use him.
Kemp's at bats against lefties in September are what made the Phillies feel comfortable about using him in what amounts to a must-win game.
"He's been a little bit better against left-handed pitching," manager Rob Thomson said. Both of these guys faced Snell in L.A. Neither one had a whole lot of success, but I just liked Kemp's at bats a little bit better."
Kemp faced Snell three times. He struck out twice and grounded out to shortstop. Wilson faced Snell twice and struck out both times.
Now, Kemp is the one getting a second crack at him, albeit under a harsher spotlight and on a grander stage.
Does that bring the butterflies?
"There's some sort of nerves there for sure," Kemp said. "But if I didn't have them, I wouldn't be a human being. You find ways to manage it and you find ways to get lost in the game and find the flow of it. For me, that's really what this is all about today - slowing it down and really getting into the game, letting it take over and not think too much about what's going on outside of that."
Defensively, the Phillies outfield is quite underwhelming. An excellent corner outfielder, Marsh is merely passable in centerfield.
Kemp basically learned left field on the fly this year and we all know about Castellanos and defensive metrics.
So the plan is to eschew really good defense in the hope that the bats can come through with more offense.
OTTO KEMP IS MAKING HIS PLAYOFF DEBUT TONIGHT
OTTOMAN KEMPIRE STAND UP pic.twitter.com/OwYwNzBgvQ
It's likely that Max Kepler will eventually find his way into the game, either as a pinch hitter if a righty is on the mound in the sixth inning or later, or as a defensive replacement for Kemp if the Phillies are ahead.
But Thomson added that Kemp has vastly improved his outfield play since he was first called up in June.
"He's really improved," Thomson said. "His routes were a little off when he first came up, but he and (outfield coach) Paco (Figueroa) did a lot of work. He takes power shags during batting practice a lot. He's really improved."
Oh, and one more thing...
"And he runs a lot better than people think he runs," Thomson said.
Yeah, including the manager. Who, back in June said Kemp has average speed.
Regardless, this is Kemp's big opportunity. The latest in a series of big opportunities that have presented themselves to him in 2025.
"I know that I can play up here and I know that I can help this team win," Kemp said. "And I got another shot today."
Considering the circumstances, the Phillies can use whatever he can give them.
