Josiah Kemp, the nephew of former Dodgers superstar Matt Kemp, was picked in the 2026 MLB Draft, and you won't believe which team snagged him. The San Francisco Giants. Yeah, you read that right. In the 12th round, the Giants pulled a move that's gotta sting for every single Dodgers fan out there hoping to see another Kemp in Dodger blue. This isn't just a draft pick, it's a full-on rivalry jab straight to the heart of LA's baseball faithful.
The Kemp Name Goes to the Enemy
Seriously, how mad must Dodgers fans be right now? Matt Kemp himself was a three-time MLB All-Star for the Dodgers in 2011, 2012, and 2018. The guy was a legitimate star, finishing second in MVP voting in 2011 and leading the National League with an 8.0 bWAR that year. He snagged two Silver Slugger awards and two Golden Gloves, all while rocking the Boys in Blue. He even played 15 years in the big leagues, with stints for the Padres, Braves, Reds, and Rockies too. His career slash line? A solid .284/.337/.484/.821, racking up 1,808 hits, 287 home runs, and 1,031 RBIs. So yeah, Matt Kemp's a legend to that fanbase. His nephew, Josiah, also an outfielder, getting drafted by the *Giants*? That's just brutal. Matt himself seemed proud of his nephew's accomplishment, even highlighting it on social media with celebratory emojis, but you gotta wonder if there's a little bittersweet feeling knowing which colors Josiah will be wearing.From Oklahoma to the Big Leagues (Eventually)
Josiah Kemp comes out of Choctaw High School in Oklahoma, a four-star prospect who was originally slated to play college baseball at the University of Oklahoma. That's a huge commitment to pivot from, which just shows how much the Giants must have liked what they saw. Baseball America writer Ben Badler calls him an "intriguing" pick, describing him as having a "simple, contact-oriented swing" and being an "athletic CF with good defensive instincts." Those are some seriously positive words from a respected scout! You can tell Matt Kemp has been heavily involved in Josiah's baseball journey too, as he was pictured right there with the youngster at his signing ceremony for the Sooners. Now, instead of Norman, Oklahoma, Josiah's social media bio reportedly shows the Giants' handle. It's wild how fast things change for these young talents. This is a long road from a 12th-round pick to the big show, but the potential is there, and the story writes itself. For Giants fans, this is a fun narrative twist, snagging a player with that kind of lineage from their biggest rival's family tree. For Dodgers fans? Well, they'll just have to wait and see if another Kemp carves out a big league legacy, but this time, he'll be rocking orange and black. Ouch.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.