PLNU third baseman Otto Kemp may not have heard his name called during the 20-round MLB Draft, but he did not have to wait long for his phone to start ringing.
 
Within 24 hours of the draft's conclusion, the PLNU third baseman signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming the second Sea Lion to turn pro this offseason.
 
"Otto is one of those players that every coach envisions and wants on their team," Head Coach Justin James said. "From day one stepping on campus he helped raise the bar. His work ethic was the best I've been around."

Hats off to #9 ⚾️

Otto Kemp capped off his PLNU career by putting up video game numbers for the Sea Lions in 2022, while starting all 61 games:

.364 BA
76 R
17 HR
62 RBI
.492 OBP
.645 SLG
1.137 OPS@PLNUBaseball ➡️ @Phillies pic.twitter.com/3bjTO9OPS0

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) July 20, 2022

 
That work ethic translated into unprecedented success for Point Loma, as Kemp was an integral part of PLNU's historic season in 2022, during which he put up video game numbers.
 
Kemp recorded a monstrous slash line with a .364 BA / .492 OBP / .645 SLG for an OPS of 1.137, while scoring 76 runs. He hit 17 home runs, including five leadoff and three Grand Slams, and posted 62 RBIs. The third baseman reached base in all 61 games.
 
His batting average, on-base %, slugging %, on-base plus slugging %, runs scored, home run and RBI totals all ranked in the top-five in the PacWest this season.
 
In single-season program history, his 2022 numbers now rank first in runs scored, third in hits and RBIs, tied-for-fifth in walks and seventh in home runs.

Instant offense 💯

Otto Kemp hit 5⃣ leadoff homers for PLNU in 2022.

That combined with a .492 on-base %, what more could you ask for from a leadoff man?@PLNUBaseball ➡️ @Phillies pic.twitter.com/VCt3CkUx2N

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) July 20, 2022

 
"His character matches his playing ability, which are both through the roof," James said. "He always put the team before himself, all while putting the hours in behind the scenes."
 
Despite only playing one full season for PLNU, because of a redshirt season in 2019 and COVID-shortened schedules in 2020 and 2021, Kemp ranks in the top-10 of the Sea Lion record books in home runs (fourth – 33), batting average (tied-eighth – .355), runs scored (ninth – 117) and RBIs (tied-ninth – 101).
 
The 2021 Honorable Mention All-American and PacWest Freshman of the Year earned All-PacWest and All-Region honors in each of the last two seasons.
 
"The Phillies just got one of the best players in the country in my opinion," James said. "He makes any organization instantly better."