Veteran infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp has introduced his retirement through social media (X hyperlink, Instagram hyperlink).
“After 12 years {of professional} baseball and 9 seasons within the huge leagues, I’ve determined to hold up the spikes,” Kemp wrote. In a prolonged farewell, he went on to thank his dad and mom, his spouse, his brother, Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, all the organizations for which he suited up within the majors (Astros, Cubs, A’s, Orioles) and all the coaching staffs who extremely helped him keep away from spending even sooner or later of his profession on the injured record. The 5’6″ Kemp additionally provided a heartfelt message for “undersized” ballplayers all over the place:
“To the undersized ballplayer: I see you, I hear you, and I perceive you. With all the metrics and knowledge within the recreation of baseball in the present day, there’s nonetheless one measurement they’ll’t compute: your coronary heart. Proceed to play the sport the precise manner and respect it. The sport will reward you, I promise. Depart little question and provides every little thing you’ve got like somebody is watching you play baseball for the primary time. I’m rooting for you all.”
Kemp, 33, was the Astros’ fifth-round pick of Vanderbilt again in 2013. He was within the huge leagues three years later, showing in 59 video games and hitting .217/.296/.325 in a small pattern of 136 plate appearances. Kemp obtained a fleeting cup of espresso with the 2017 Astros (39 plate appearances) however landed his first actual look within the majors in 2018. He totaled 97 video games and 295 plate appearances for Houston that yr and delivered a pleasant .263/.351/.392 batting line (110 wRC+) with a powerful 10.8% stroll price towards a tiny 14.9% strikeout price.
The next season, Kemp turned in a good efficiency by 66 video games with Houston earlier than being flipped to the Cubs in a deadline deal that introduced catcher Martin Maldonado to the Astros. He struggled in a brief 44-game tenure with the Cubs, who traded him to the A’s in an offseason deal netting them first baseman Alfonso Rivas III.
It proved to be a terrific transfer by the Athletics. Kemp delivered the perfect work of his profession in inexperienced and gold, spending 4 seasons with the A’s and enjoying fairly nicely for the primary three. From 2020-22, he posted a .252/.341/.361 slash (105 wRC+) with savvy baserunning and high quality protection at each second base and in left subject. Kemp by no means hit for a lot energy, however throughout that three-year peak with the A’s he drew walks at a ten.5% clip and flashed regularly plus bat-to-ball abilities, fanning in solely 12.5% of his plate appearances.
The 2023 season was a troublesome one, as Kemp hit simply .209/.303/.304 in 417 turns on the plate. Oakland minimize him unfastened that offseason. Kemp went on to signal minor league offers with the Reds, Orioles and Twins. He briefly appeared within the majors with Baltimore final season, moving into 5 video games however going hitless in 10 plate appearances.
Kemp spent a dozen years in professional ball, noticed MLB time in 9 seasons with 4 groups, and can retire with a .237/.324/.351 batting line in 739 MLB video games and 2247 plate appearances. He picked up greater than six years of huge league service and, per Baseball-Reference, secured greater than $8.5MM in profession earnings (along with his $250K signing bonus out of the draft). Kemp was a preferred teammate and a fan favourite based mostly on his self-described “grinder mentality” on the diamond. Congrats to Tony on a profitable profession, and finest needs in no matter steps lie forward.
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