Tony Kemp (baseball)

Tony Kemp
Kemp with the Houston Astros in 2018
Free agent
Second baseman / Left fielder
Born: (1991-10-31) October 31, 1991 (age 33) Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 17, 2016, for the Houston Astros
MLB statistics (through 2024 season)
Batting average	.237
Home runs	35
Runs batted in	184
Teams
Houston Astros (2016–2019) Chicago Cubs (2019) Oakland Athletics (2020–2023) Baltimore Orioles (2024)
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2017)

Anthony Allen Kemp (born October 31, 1991) is an American professional baseball second baseman and left fielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and Baltimore Orioles.

Kemp played college baseball at Vanderbilt University. The Houston Astros selected Kemp in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut with the Astros in 2016. Kemp won the 2017 World Series with the Astros. After he was traded to the Cubs during the 2019 season, Kemp played for the Athletics from 2020 through 2023 and the Orioles in 2024.

Career

Amateur career

Kemp graduated from Centennial High School in Franklin, Tennessee.^[1] He attended Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores baseball team. In 2011, Kemp was named the Southeastern Conference's (SEC) Freshman of the Year and First Team All-SEC.^[2] He was a key contributor on the 2011 team, which was the first Vanderbilt baseball team to make it to the College World Series. In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.^[3] He was named an All-American and the SEC Baseball Player of the Year in 2013.^[4][5]

Houston Astros

Kemp with the Corpus Christi Hooks in 2014

The Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) selected Kemp in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB draft.^[6] In 2015, Kemp began the season with the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double–A Texas League.^[7] He received a midseason promotion to the Fresno Grizzlies of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League,^[8] and appeared in the 2015 All-Star Futures Game.^[9]

Kemp began the 2016 season with Fresno, and was promoted to the major leagues on May 16.^[10] He was optioned to Fresno on June 25, 2016, when A. J. Reed was called up for his debut.^[11] On August 7, 2016, Kemp was recalled to the Astros. After center fielder Carlos Gómez was designated for assignment, Kemp and Jake Marisnick platooned in centerfield.^[12] In 2016 with the Astros, he batted .217/.296/.325 with one home run in 136 plate appearances while playing primarily left field.^[13]

On March 19, 2017, he was optioned back to Fresno.^[14] On April 27, 2017 the Astros promoted Kemp to the major leagues to replace injured Teoscar Hernández.^[15] On May 1, 2017, the Astros optioned him back down as Marisnick was activated off of the disabled list.^[16]

On September 2, 2017, he was called up to the Astros and played in their doubleheader against the Mets, their first home game after Hurricane Harvey.^[17] In 17 games with the Astros, Kemp batted .216/.256/.243 with 4 RBIs while playing primarily left field. The Astros finished the season with a 101-61 record and eventually won the 2017 World Series, their first ever championship title. Kemp did not participate in any playoff action, but was still on the 40-man roster at the time, and won his first championship title.^[18]

In March 2018, the Astros optioned Kemp back to Fresno. He was called up on May 16 to replace Jake Marisnick.^[19] In the 2018 season, Kemp played in 97 games for the Astros, batting .263/.351/.392 with 6 HRs and 30 RBIs, playing primarily in left field.^[20] He was mocked by the Fenway Park crowd and organist during the second game of the 2018 American League Championship Series (ALCS) when he took an extended period of time to return to the batter's box after a foul ball. Following the third game of the 2018 ALCS, Kemp received wide sports media coverage for making a leaping catch against the left field wall on a ball hit by Steve Pearce. The Red Sox challenged the catch at the wall, since it sounded like the ball hit the wall first. After further review, they announced the catch as confirmed, meaning the MLB replay crew in New York saw conclusive evidence of the catch.^[21] In game four, Kemp hit a fourth inning solo home run off Rick Porcello after only hitting six homers during the regular season.

On July 26, 2019, the Astros designated Kemp for assignment to activate Carlos Correa.^[22] His 2019 season with the Astros ended with a .227/.308/.417 line over 163 at bats, while he had a career high with seven home runs in 66 games, prior to being traded.

Chicago Cubs

On July 31, 2019, the Astros traded Kemp to the Chicago Cubs for Martín Maldonado.^[23] In 2019 with the Cubs, he batted .183/.258/.305 with one home run in 82 at bats.^[13]

Oakland Athletics

On January 13, 2020, the Cubs traded Kemp to the Oakland Athletics for minor league first baseman Alfonso Rivas.^[24] In 2020 for the Athletics, Kemp slashed .247/.363/.301 with no home runs and four RBI in 49 games.^[25] After the 2020 season, Kemp and the Athletics signed a $1.05 million contract for the 2021 season, avoiding salary arbitration.^[26] In 2021, he slashed .279/.382/.418 with 8 home runs and 37 RBIs in 131 games. His hard-hit percentage of 21.9% was, however, though the highest of his career, in the bottom 2% of the league, and his barrel percentage was in the bottom 2% of the league.^[27]

Kemp agreed to a $2.25 million salary with the Athletics for the 2022 season.^[28] In 2022, he batted .235/.307/.334 in 497 at bats.^[13] He had the lowest average exit velocity of all major league batters, at 84.4 mph, and the lowest percentage of hard-hit balls, at 14.9%.^[29][30]

On January 13, 2023, Kemp signed a one-year, $3.725 million contract with the Athletics, avoiding salary arbitration.^[31] He played in 124 games for the Athletics, hitting .209/.303/.304 with 5 home runs, 27 RBI, 15 stolen bases.

Baltimore Orioles

Kemp shakes hands with Maryland Governor Wes Moore, 2024

On February 23, 2024, Kemp signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.^[32] He failed to win a spot on the major league roster during spring training and was released on March 19.^[33]

Kemp signed a one–year, $1 million major league contract with the Baltimore Orioles on March 26.^[34][35] In 10 plate appearances for Baltimore, Kemp walked once and did not record a hit. The Orioles designated him for assignment on April 10 following the promotion of Jackson Holliday.^[36] He elected free agency on April 13.^[37]

Minnesota Twins

On April 16, 2024, Kemp signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.^[38] In 46 games for the Triple–A St. Paul Saints, he batted .279/.358/.436 with six home runs, 26 RBI, and four stolen bases. On July 1, Kemp exercised the opt–out clause in his contract and was granted his release by the Twins.^[39]

Cincinnati Reds

On July 9, 2024, Kemp signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.^[40] In 35 games for the Triple–A Louisville Bats, he batted .237/.338/.364 with three home runs, 17 RBI, and four stolen bases. Kemp was released by the Reds organization on August 30.^[41]

Personal life

Kemp's wife, Michelle (née Chieng), is of Chinese descent, the daughter of a Canadian mother and a Malaysian father.^[42] They met during high school and have two daughters.^[43]

See also

• 2013 College Baseball All-America Team

References

1. "CHS alum a baseball standout at Vandy". Franklin Home Page. March 28, 2013. Archived from the original on February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
2. "2011 SEC Baseball Awards: Garvin "Pitcher of the Year," Kemp "Freshman of the Year"". May 24, 2011.
3. "#14 Tony Kemp - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
4. "Vanderbilt's Tony Kemp SEC Player of the Year | The Tennessean | tennessean.com". Archive.is. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
5. "SEC Names Vandy's Tony Kemp Baseball Player Of Year – NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports". NewsChannel5.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2013. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
6. "Vanderbilt's Tony Kemp signs deal with Houston Astros | The Tennessean | tennessean.com". Archive.is. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
7. "Astros minor leaguer Tony Kemp draws national attention with highlight-reel catch". Ultimate Astros. April 21, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
8. "Fresno Grizzlies". fresnobee. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
9. "Tony Kemp shows talent in Futures Game". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
10. Kaplan, Jake (May 16, 2016). "Astros to call up Tony Kemp from Class AAA Fresno - Houston Chronicle". Chron.com. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
11. "Major League Baseball Transactions". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
12. "Astros let Carlos Gomez go, amid season-long slump". August 10, 2016.
13. "Tony Kemp Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
14. "Transactions". Houston Astros. Archived from the original on April 4, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
15. "Astros call up utility man Tony Kemp". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
16. "Astros to activate Jake Marisnick on Monday". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
17. "Tyler White, Tony Kemp among Astros' first September call-ups". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
18. McTaggart, Brian; Gurnick, Ken. "Houston Astros win 2017 World Series". MLB. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
19. "Astros call up Kemp after sending down struggling Marisnick". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
20. "Tony Kemp College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
21. "Red Sox vs. Astros ALCS Game 3: Tony Kemp makes leaping catch at left-field wall, leaves Mookie Betts and Co. Stunned". cbssports.com. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
22. "Houston Astros designate Tony Kemp for assignment". July 27, 2019.
23. "Astros bring back catcher Maldonado". MLB.com. July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
24. "Cubs trade Tony Kemp to Athletics to address crowded second-base competition". Chicago Tribune. January 13, 2020.
25. "Tony Kemp Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
26. "Sources: A's keeping 2B Kemp on $1.05M deal". ESPN.com. December 2, 2020.
27. "Tony Kemp Statcast, Visuals & Advanced Metrics | MLB.com". baseballsavant.com.
28. Kawahara, By Matt. "A's sign Tony Kemp, Chad Pinder to contracts for 2022".
29. "Major League Leaderboards » 2022 » Batters » Statcast | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
30. "Major League Leaderboards » 2022 » Batters » Statcast | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
31. "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
32. "Reds Sign Tony Kemp To Minor League Deal". MLB Trade Rumors. February 23, 2024.
33. "Reds Release Tony Kemp". MLB Trade Rumors. March 19, 2024.
34. "Orioles sign Kemp to big league contract, designate Maton". MASNsports.com - Orioles and Nationals on MASNsports.com. March 26, 2024.
35. "Tony Kemp agrees to $1 million contract with Orioles after release from minor league deal with Reds". FOX Sports.
36. DeRosa, Theo; Rill, Jake (April 10, 2024). "No. 1 overall prospect Holliday gets the call to O's". MLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
37. "Tony Kemp Elects Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
38. "Twins, Tony Kemp Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
39. "Tony Kemp Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With Twins". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
40. "Reds Sign Tony Kemp To Minor League Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
41. "Reds Release Tony Kemp". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
42. "Michelle, Tony Kemp give back, living a legacy beyond baseball". July 3, 2021.
43. "Kemp relishes A's tenure as free agency looms". MLB.com.

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
• Tony Kemp on Twitter