Kannon Kemp Stats & Scouting Report

Top Rankings

BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: A late-bloomer on the mound, Kemp didn’t start pitching until eighth grade and was a reliever his sophomore year at Weatherford (Texas) High. He blossomed into a top pitching prospect as an upperclassman and was committed to Oklahoma before the Padres drafted him in the eighth round and signed him for $625,000, nearly triple the recommended slot amount. Kemp didn’t pitch in an official game after signing but began throwing at the Padres’ complex during instructional league.

Scouting Report: Large and physical at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds, Kemp sat 88-92 mph in high school but had already began pushing his 94-96 mph after getting on a throwing program with the Padres. It projects to be a borderline plus-plus pitch as he continues to mature. Kemp’s secondaries are still raw. He has the makings of a high-spin slider that sits 78-82 mph and he flashes a good feel for a mid-80s changeup with two-seam action, but both are fringy to below-average pitches that need improvement. Despite his size, Kemp has a compact delivery and fast arm speed out a three-quarters slot. He fills up the strike zone with above-average control and shows the ability to manipulate and cut his fastball.

The Future: Kemp is on track to make his pro debut at Low-A Lake Elsinore in 2024. He projects to be a No. 4 starter with continued velocity gains and secondary development.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 65 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 55

School: Weatherford (Texas) HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: Oklahoma
Age At Draft: 18.9
Kemp is a large and physical 6-foot-6, 225-pound righthander with lots of length in his limbs, but a surprisingly short and compact arm action despite that. He never fully extends his arm throughout his takeback, instead keeping it cocked and close to his body, before firing to the plate with a three-quarter slot and plenty of arm speed. He has mostly pitched in the 89-92 mph range this spring but he did touch 93-94 a few times in a fall outing in 2022, and he looks like the sort of player who could gain more velocity in the future. Kemp has good feel for a mid-80s changeup that pairs nicely with his fastball and he also has the makings of a solid, high-spin curveball in the upper 70s. Kemp is committed to Oklahoma.