Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Coming out of Weatherford High School in Texas – the alma mater of Zack Britton – Kemp went to the Padres in the eighth round of the 2023 Draft and signed away from an Oklahoma commitment with a $625,000 bonus. He started to experience shoulder issues shortly after signing and needed surgery to address a labrum tear in the spring of what should have been his first full season. His pro debut finally came in May 2025 in the Arizona Complex League, followed by a move to Single-A Lake Elsinore. He posted a 5.56 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings between the two spots and added six brief appearances in the Arizona Fall League.

By the time he reached the desert, the 6-foot-6 right-hander’s story was no longer just about projection but also about present stuff. His velocity slowly ticked up throughout his age-20 season, and in the Fall League, his fastball sat 96-98 mph, topping out at 99.5, from his short arm action. The movement was more pedestrian, as was the extension, but the additional heat was certainly necessary to get it to play better. He throws both a four-seam and two-seam. An upper-80s bullet slider acts as his breaking ball with tight break, and his 88-91 mph changeup shows a good amount of armside run, sometimes so much Kemp can’t command it in the zone.

For all the promise in his individual pitches, Kemp didn’t miss bats in standout ways in any of his stops in 2025, and he still must prove he can maintain the late velocity increase over a longer period. But with another year removed from the shoulder issues, he could be in for a much-awaited breakout when he’s the age of most college juniors.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Weatherford High School in Texas has produced more than its fair share of Major League pitchers, including Zack Britton, Beau Burrows and no-hitter legend Hippo Vaughn. Kemp is trying to help that legend grow as he works his way through the Padres system. Ranked No. 209 in the 2023 Draft by MLB Pipeline, he went to San Diego in the eighth round that summer, signing for well above slot at $625,000. He was waylaid by shoulder problems in what should have been his first full season, eventually undergoing surgery, but he's returned with stops in the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Lake Elsinore this summer.

Kemp is a physical presence at 6-foot-6 at just 20 years old, and it’s still all about the projection in his prospect profile. He uses a short arm action in his delivery, almost holding his throwing hand in place while the rest of his body moves around it on the mound. He hasn’t blown his 92-94 mph fastball (touching mid-90s) past many California League batters just yet, but when he does, it’s because he’s stapled the pitch flatly to the top rail of the zone. His slider has been his best whiff pitch after some modifications; it’s now an offering that can wear out the low gloveside corner. His changeup will flash promising fade, along with some firmness that keeps it fringy for now.

Even after the lost time, Kemp hasn’t lost his ability to throw strikes at a decent clip, and he should be able to repeat his delivery all the more as he continues to add strength. The biggest purpose of 2025 was getting Kemp back on the mound consistently, and with his size, there’s hope he can build on a steadier foundation now that he’s accomplished that initial goal.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

Hailing from Weatherford (Texas) HS – the same school that produced Zack Britton, Beau Burrows and no-hitter legend Hippo Vaughn – Kemp put himself on the radar the fall before his senior year when he started touching 94 mph at the Texas State Games and the World Wood Bat Association World Championship. He maintained that momentum into the spring and was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 209 Draft prospect in 2023. The Oklahoma commit fell to the eighth round, but the Padres signed him for $625,000, giving him their second-highest bonus of the class to talk him away from college ball.

Kemp was back to the 89-92 mph range for the most part, still touching 94, in his final spring as an amateur, but he started flashing a little more velo under the Padres’ watch, though he didn’t pitch in an official game for the organization. His low-80s slider was also improving, but because of a short arm action, some scouts doubt it would be better than average in the pros. A mid-80s changeup also showed too much firmness, though it’ll occasionally fade nicely giving hope it too could be a decent third option.

Kemp stands out most for his size at 6-foot-6, and there’s still projection remaining, so this might be only the start of his velo gains. The stronger he gets, the more likely he is to repeat his delivery and get strikes too, giving him breakout potential entering his first full season. Because Kemp signed, the Padres can oversee his development how they see fit, but shoulder issues have kept him from getting going in earnest in what should have been his first full season.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40 

Weatherford (Texas) HS has sent three pitchers to the big leagues in the past two decades -- Zack Britton, Beau Burrows and Colt Hynes -- as well as Hippo Vaughn of double no-hitter fame a century ago. The Kangaroos' latest phenom is Kemp, who popped up as a prospect last fall when he began reaching 94 mph with his fastball at the Texas State Games and the World Wood Bat Association World Championship. His control improved significantly this spring, and the Padres took him in the eighth round, signing him away from an Oklahoma commitment with a well-above-slot $625,000 bonus.

Kemp worked at 89-92 mph for most of the spring, occasionally hitting some 94s, and alternately features run and cut on his fastball. His slider is gaining some velocity and now parks in the low 80s, though some scouts question how conducive his short arm action is to spinning the ball. He displays some feel for a changeup with promising fade, but it's presently too firm in the mid-80s.

Kemp has a solid 6-foot-6 build with room to add more muscle, so he should gain more velocity. As he gets stronger, his ability to repeat his delivery and provide strikes is getting better. That gives the Padres development staff a solid base to work with as Kemp begins his pro career.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40 

Weatherford (Texas) HS has sent three pitchers to the big leagues in the last two decades -- Zack Britton, Beau Burrows and Colt Hynes -- as well as Hippo Vaughn of double no-hitter fame a century ago. The Kangaroos' latest phenom is Kemp, who popped as a prospect last fall when he began reaching 94 mph with his fastball at the Texas State Games and the World Wood Bat Association World Championship. His control improved significantly this spring, though it remains to be seen if he can be lured away from an Oklahoma commitment. 

Kemp worked at 89-92 mph for most of the spring, occasionally hitting some 94s, and alternately features run and cut on his fastball. His slider is gaining some velocity and now parks in the low 80s, though some scouts question how conducive his short arm action is to spinning the ball. He displays some feel for a changeup with some promising fade, but it's presently too firm in the mid-80s. 

Kemp has a solid 6-foot-6 build with room to add more muscle, so he should gain more velocity. As he gets stronger, his ability to repeat his delivery and provide strikes is getting better. If he goes to college and continues to improve, he could be an early-round pick in 2026. 

Awards

ACL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
06/01/2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	04/22/2026	Fort Wayne TinCaps transferred RHP Kannon Kemp from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	04/04/2026	Fort Wayne TinCaps placed RHP Kannon Kemp on the 7-day injured list.
	04/04/2026	Fort Wayne TinCaps placed RHP Kannon Kemp on the 7-day injured list.
	03/28/2026	RHP Kannon Kemp assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
	03/05/2026	RHP Kannon Kemp assigned to San Diego Padres Prospects.
	10/01/2025	RHP Kannon Kemp assigned to Peoria Javelinas.
	06/10/2025	RHP Kannon Kemp assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
	11/03/2024	ACL Padres activated RHP Kannon Kemp from the 60-day injured list.
	05/03/2024	ACL Padres placed RHP Kannon Kemp on the 60-day injured list.
	08/10/2023	RHP Kannon Kemp roster status changed by ACL Padres.
	07/20/2023	San Diego Padres signed RHP Kannon Kemp.