A small, speedy second baseman in the Houston system is bound to draw comparisons to Jose Altuve. Let's be honest, that's unfair to both guys. It undersells just how excellent Altuve has been as a big leaguer and puts lofty expectations on Kemp based mostly on size. So, let's just focus on Kemp. He has posted a .304 average in the minors over 1,797 plate appearances, but more importantly a near 1.0 K/BB. His speed has been there in volume, but not efficiency -- 107 steals with a modest 70 percent success rate. His 20 percent strikeout rate was a lot (for him) in his MLB debut, but his six percent swinging strike rate suggests he was perhaps too passive while pitchers were attacking. This profile at peak might only hit .275, but with a .340-plus OBP which should offer ample opportunity to steal if he learns when to go. Unfortunately, he would need Altuve to suffer an injury in order to profile as more than a utility player if he remains with Houston.

Kemp is the type of player who often gets overlooked due to his size (5-foot-7, 165 pounds), but the Astros know more than any other organization that small second basemen can still be a factor at the big league level. With a profile that matches Jose Altuve nearly perfectly, the 24-year-old hit .308/.388/.386 in 121 games between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Fresno last season. With excellent plate discipline (169 walks to 179 strikeouts over three minor league seasons) and plus speed (35 steals last year), Kemp has advanced rapidly in the minors, but the Astros have a crowded infield and aren't in a rush to promote him to the bigs. Unless the team deals with injuries, he's likely to spend a full season at Triple-A Fresno.

In 72 games with High-A Lancaster, Kemp hit .336/.433/.468 with 19 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 37 RBI and 79 runs scored over 295 at-bats. His .433 OBP ranked first in the California League, which earned him a well-deserved promotion to Double-A Corpus Christi in late June. The 23-year-old second baseman was nearly as successful in the Texas League, hitting .292/.381/.425 in 59 games. What Kemp lacks in size (5-foot-6, 165 pounds) and power, he makes up for with plus speed (41 steals between the two levels) and an excellent batting eye (73 walks to 67 strikeouts). He's a prospect to keep an eye on in the Astros' system as he prepares for a likely promotion to Triple-A at some point in 2015.