Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Otto Kemp (4) returns to the dugout against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
LAKELAND, Fla. -- There are a few things different about Otto Kemp this year.
First, is his look. He's now sporting a beard.
"People keep telling me I look five years older," he said.
He does.
"We'll see if it sticks," he said.
If you are interested in that sort of thing, you'll be able to follow along, as Kemp all but has a spot on the Opening Day roster carved in stone.
Despite an up and down spring so far, Kemp is going to be the platoon partner for Brandon Marsh in left field.
And there's one more thing that's different -- he's healthy.
And while to most, that might seem like a good thing, for Kemp, being healthy posed a challenge this spring.
Which is why unlike a lot of guys, Kemp is focused on his stats this spring.
Otto Kemp talks health, high expectations for 2026 with @TimKellySports pic.twitter.com/ZLYKQfp4nS
"I can't treat it like it doesn't matter," Kemp said. "You can't flip that switch once you are done with Spring Training and go into the season. So, for me, every at bat matters, especially coming off what I had in the offseason."
What he had were two surgical procedures. One to repair a fractured left knee cap. The other to cleanup his left shoulder.
He played half of the 2025 season through the injuries, and had to change his swing to compensate for them.
Now that he's healthy, he's trying to course correct back to where he was before fouling a ball off his knee last June 17.
"I talked about it with our team because it was going to take me a second to get calibrated because my body is moving a little bit differently and I'm healthy now," Kemp said. "You get used to playing hurt and your mechanics when you are doing that, so I knew there would be an adjustment period, so I've been trying to give myself some grace with that."
Which is why what happened on Monday allowed Kemp to see the results of that grace should bear fruit.
Kemp crushed a three-run homer off Detroit reliever Brenan Hanifee to dead centerfield in the Phillies 13-6 loss to the Tigers. The ball travelled a long, long way -- 455 feet to be exact.
Otto Kemp goes DEEP at Publix Field — 455 feet to center, clearing the bases and collecting HR #3 this Spring! 🚀🤠 #OttoKemp #BrenanHanifee #JustinCrawford #EdmundoSosa #Phillies #Tigers #SpringTraining #Dinger #BigFly #Bangers pic.twitter.com/t44wdqQbg1
"It feels good to get rewarded for everything we're working on," Kemp said. "I'm trying to find some consistency. I feel like we're on the right path and that's just an example that you are and reassures that you just stay the course."
It was Kemp's third home run this spring, tying him for the team lead with Alec Bohm and Felix Reyes in Grapefruit League action.
When he makes contact, it's usually with slug. Of his eight hits this spring, six are either doubles or homers. Thus, his .818 OPS.
But there's been a lot of swing and miss as well. In 38 at bats, Kemp has struck out 14 times, which is why his batting average is on the lower end at .211.
Yet, while Kemp cares about his numbers, his manager does not, and sees a lot more good in the process for Kemp.
"He's been great," Rob Thomson said. "Even at the start of the spring, his at bats have been good. He's moving around fine and whatever position we've put him."
He was in left field on Monday and made a sliding catch against the stands down the left field line as he banged his surgically repaired knee into the wall, before bouncing up and jogging back to his position -- and he was fine.
But it's an indicator that the defensive improvements are there, too.
"He's really improved," Thomson said. "He works very, very hard."
