Kannon Kemp’s name still belongs on the list of intriguing arms in the Padres system, but the latest look at him in the Arizona Fall League paints a rough picture. The right-hander is dealing with serious control problems, and the progress the Padres hoped to see just hasn’t shown up yet.
According to Geoff Pontes of Baseball America, Kemp was one of the top pitching prospects examined from the AFL, which at least keeps him in the conversation. He was drafted in the eighth round out of high school in Texas in 2023, then lost all of 2024 to a shoulder impingement and the first half of 2026 to an oblique injury.
When Kemp finally got back on the mound with High-A Fort Wayne this season, the results were shaky. They didn’t get better in the AFL, where he gave up nine earned runs on 14 hits and eight walks across 13 innings.
Pontes noted that the AFL’s stronger scouting technology, the same kind used in MLB, helped sharpen the evaluation of Kemp’s stuff. The raw power is there - he works with upper-90s velocity - but the fastball profile is not carrying him.
His four-seamer “lacks shape,” and his “release traits are pedestrian.” His sinker grades better than the four-seamer, though it still isn’t viewed as a plus pitch by the metrics.
The rest of the arsenal has its own questions. Kemp’s main secondary offering is a “gyro slider” in the upper 80s that can miss bats, but it also falls short of plus status. He has also added an upper-80s changeup and a low-80s curveball that’s a sweeper, but the locations have been poor so far.
Pontes didn’t offer a clear answer on what comes next for Kemp, and that’s where things get murky. His age and the amount of time he’s already missed suggest the Padres aren’t ready to give up on him, but he may need a lot more refinement, and High-A might not be the right place for him right now. A step back would be a meaningful move, though it’s not clear whether that’s the direction San Diego will take.
What is clear is that the Padres could use more power arms. Their farm system is thin, and they lean on that type of pitcher in the bullpen. Left-hander Adrian Morejon is also a free agent, leaving open the possibility that San Diego could lose one of its best setup men in baseball.
In Other News...
Padres Just Lost Another Wave Of Depth With One Familiar Name Gone
The Padres offseason depth chart took another hit this week, with a long list of minor league free agents peeling away from the organization. According to the teams transaction log on MiLB.com, San Diego has now lost 11 position players and eight pitchers from the system, a reminder of how quickly the margins can thin once the roster churn of the winter begins.
Among the names on the move is Johnson, who logged 134 MLB games for the Padres and had become one of the more familiar holdovers in the organization. The rest of the list includes players who spent the 2026 season at various minor league levels, which is the part that matters most for a club like San Diego, where every bit of upper-level depth can end up relevant before long. [Read more 🡒]
Tatis Just Gave Padres Fans A New Debate About His Value
Fernando Tatis Jr. has given Padres fans another reason to argue about just how valuable he really is, and this one comes with hardware attached. The star was nominated for the 2026 National League Silver Slugger Award at two positions, outfield and utility, a reflection of how much his game has stretched beyond the usual box score label. He spent 53 games at second base and handled the spot with a .979 fielding percentage, while still producing at the plate with a .289 average, 25 home runs and 83 RBIs.
The unusual split only adds to the intrigue, because Tatis is now up against a deep field of contenders at both spots and could put himself in Padres record territory if he comes away with one or both awards. For a player whose value has always sparked debate, the nomination underscores how much his versatility has mattered to San Diego this season. The only question left is whether the voters will reward him in one role, both, or leave the Padres waiting to see how the final tally shakes out. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Could Lose A Bullpen Weapon To A Familiar Rival
The bullpen market is already starting to take shape around the Padres, and Adrin Morejn has quickly become one of the more interesting names to watch. He received a qualifying offer from San Diego, but there is still a real possibility he tests free agency, which would put one of the Padres most valuable relief arms squarely in play as the offseason unfolds.
Los Angeles has already shown a willingness to spend aggressively on pitching, signing Edwin Daz to a three-year deal last winter and expected to chase Tarik Skubal this offseason. If the Dodgers decide to make a run at Morejn too, the appeal is obvious from their side, since pairing him with Daz would give them another formidable late-inning combination while leaving San Diego to weigh the cost of keeping a trusted bullpen piece out of a familiar rivals hands. [Read more 🡒]