Kemp Alderman Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Riley Kemp Alderman
Born 08/20/2002 in Meridian CC, MS
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 265 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Mississippi
Drafted in the 2nd round (47th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2023 (signed for $1,400,000).

View Draft Report

School: Mississippi Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 20.9
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 40. Power: 65. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 60.

Alderman ranked as the No. 374 prospect in the 2020 class out of high school as a two-way player with a low-90s fastball on the mound and plus raw power with some feel for the barrel as a hitter. A hitter only now, Alderman had the best season of his career in 2023, when he hit .376/.440/.709 with 19 home runs, 14 doubles and some of the best pure raw power in the class. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound righthanded hitter has light-tower power and hits massive home runs to the pull side, with a 90th percentile exit velocity of more than 114 mph. He has a low handset in his setup, with a crouched stance and relatively simple operation overall, but his power comes with exceptional chase and miss rates, though his overall 2023 strikeout rate, 16.9%, was respectable. It’s a solidly power-over-hit offensive profile and he’ll need to find a way to become more selective, or make more contact, at the next level. Alderman’s defensive profile is an interesting one. He’s a good athlete who has spent most of his time in the corner outfield spots and some time at first base, but he has also played a bit of catcher as well. Teams would love to get his raw power behind the plate, but he will need to dramatically improve his actions, hands, exchange and footwork to make that happen. He’s most likely a corner outfield/first baseman in pro ball.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 40/High

Track Record: Alderman was one of the premier collegiate hitters in 2023, when he slashed .376/.440/.709 with 14 doubles, 19 home runs and 61 RBIs. He was a second team All-SEC selection and was subsequently selected 47th overall. Alderman signed for $1.4 million, which was roughly $425,000 less than slot value. Alderman experienced growing pains in his first professional season and hit just .205/.286/.316 with 10 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs in 34 games with Low-A Jupiter. Perhaps most concerning was Alderman’s 33.3% strikeout rate.

Scouting Report: At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Alderman is as physical as they come. He stands in the box with a slightly open front side and low handset. Alderman has a normal stride, but his swing is lengthy. When Alderman makes contact he generates extremely high-quality impact--the struggle has just been making contact. In his first pro season, Alderman made contact at just a 63% clip, including a well below- average in-zone contact rate of 69%. Similar to his time at Mississippi, Alderman displayed below-average pitch-recognition skills and poor swing decisions. He does have borderline double-plus raw power, but there’s a risk he doesn’t get to it consistently in games. Alderman moves surprisingly well in the outfield and has an above-average arm, though there is some first base risk.

The Future: Alderman will begin 2024 with Low-A Jupiter and should get a taste of High-A Beloit before the end of the season. His offensive potential is exciting, though his approach will need to improve. In the majors Alderman might fit best at first base.

Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 65 | Run: 40 | Field: 45 | Arm: 55

Draft Prospects

School: Mississippi Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 20.9
BA Grade:45/High
Tools:Hit: 40. Power: 65. Run: 40. Field: 45. Arm: 60.

Alderman ranked as the No. 374 prospect in the 2020 class out of high school as a two-way player with a low-90s fastball on the mound and plus raw power with some feel for the barrel as a hitter. A hitter only now, Alderman had the best season of his career in 2023, when he hit .376/.440/.709 with 19 home runs, 14 doubles and some of the best pure raw power in the class. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound righthanded hitter has light-tower power and hits massive home runs to the pull side, with a 90th percentile exit velocity of more than 114 mph. He has a low handset in his setup, with a crouched stance and relatively simple operation overall, but his power comes with exceptional chase and miss rates, though his overall 2023 strikeout rate, 16.9%, was respectable. It’s a solidly power-over-hit offensive profile and he’ll need to find a way to become more selective, or make more contact, at the next level. Alderman’s defensive profile is an interesting one. He’s a good athlete who has spent most of his time in the corner outfield spots and some time at first base, but he has also played a bit of catcher as well. Teams would love to get his raw power behind the plate, but he will need to dramatically improve his actions, hands, exchange and footwork to make that happen. He’s most likely a corner outfield/first baseman in pro ball.
At one point, there was a hope that Alderman may turn into a catcher with power and a strong arm. Catching didn’t really take, which isn’t all that surprising considering he’s already 6-foot-4, 240 pounds with plenty of strength. But he still has a strong arm that generates 91-94 mph bowling balls with heavy sink on the mound. His breaking ball is currently sweepy and needs to get tighter and his arm action is lengthy. Alderman also has some promise as a hitter with plus raw power and some barrel feel. Aderman is young for the class—he won’t turn 18 until August. He didn’t get to play much this spring because he was on the basketball court into February. He’s a Mississippi signee.