Kehden Hettiger Stats & Scouting Report

AB	226
AVG	.195
OBP	.361
SLG	.31
HR	5

Full name Kehden Hettiger
Born 05/25/2004 in Palmdale, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: S / Throws: R
School Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, Calif.
Drafted in the 11th round (343rd overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 (signed for $397,500).

View Draft Report

School: Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, Calif. Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Oregon
Age At Draft: 19.1
Hettiger is a switch-hitting catcher with a 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame and impressive raw power. He has filled out and added a significant amount of strength over the last year or so, and it’s translated into eye-popping home runs, particularly from the left side of the plate, this spring. Hettiger has a slightly wide stance from both sides of the plate, and does a nice job getting his foot down early and creating separation with his hips and shoulders, before shooting his hands to the ball with a quick, whippy and powerful swing. There’s a slight bat tip and hand hitch in his load that could create timing issues at the next level, but his bat speed and pitch recognition have been more than good enough against high school pitching to allow him to find the barrel and hit with authority. Scouts are impressed with his pure feel for hitting, particularly from the left side, and while he’s close to physically maxed out now, he should hit for solid power at the next level. There are more defensive questions with Hettiger. He has a solid arm that could be an asset if he’s able to stick behind the plate, but he’s a work-in-progress defender at the position now and might wind up at third base, first base or a corner outfield position. Hettiger is committed to Oregon and is old for the class. He will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2025 if he makes it to campus.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: Hettiger was the Phillies’ 11th-round pick in 2023 but earned the fourth-highest bonus in the class at $397,500. The California prep product opened evaluators’ eyes during a brief look in the Florida Complex League. He added strength between his junior and senior seasons in high school and showed big-time power gains, which elevated his draft stock.

Scouting Report: Hettiger sticks out because of a well-rounded set of tools both offensively and defensively. He has a flexible body with plenty of athleticism and average arm strength that should allow him to stick behind the plate. In the box he shows a wider stance with plenty of separation that helps create a whippy, powerful swing. He projects as an average hitter who has above-average power now and a chance for more thanks to remaining projection in his frame. There’s a couple of mechanical issues in his swing that could be smoothed out as he moves up the ladder.

The Future: Hettiger impressed evaluators both internally and externally with his defense and now has a better chance than expected to stick at catcher. He’ll open 2023 at Low-A Clearwater.

Scouting Grades Hit: 50 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 55 | Arm: 50

Draft Prospects

School: Sierra Canyon HS, Chatsworth, Calif. Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Oregon
Age At Draft: 19.1
Hettiger is a switch-hitting catcher with a 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame and impressive raw power. He has filled out and added a significant amount of strength over the last year or so, and it’s translated into eye-popping home runs, particularly from the left side of the plate, this spring. Hettiger has a slightly wide stance from both sides of the plate, and does a nice job getting his foot down early and creating separation with his hips and shoulders, before shooting his hands to the ball with a quick, whippy and powerful swing. There’s a slight bat tip and hand hitch in his load that could create timing issues at the next level, but his bat speed and pitch recognition have been more than good enough against high school pitching to allow him to find the barrel and hit with authority. Scouts are impressed with his pure feel for hitting, particularly from the left side, and while he’s close to physically maxed out now, he should hit for solid power at the next level. There are more defensive questions with Hettiger. He has a solid arm that could be an asset if he’s able to stick behind the plate, but he’s a work-in-progress defender at the position now and might wind up at third base, first base or a corner outfield position. Hettiger is committed to Oregon and is old for the class. He will be a draft-eligible sophomore in 2025 if he makes it to campus.