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Tony Kemp Announces Retirement

By Steve Adams | May 15, 2025 at 11:43am CDT

Veteran infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp has announced his retirement via social media (X link, Instagram link).

“After 12 years of professional baseball and nine seasons in the big leagues, I’ve decided to hang up the spikes,” Kemp wrote. In a lengthy farewell, he went on to thank his parents, his wife, his brother, Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, all of the organizations for which he suited up in the majors (Astros, Cubs, A’s, Orioles) and all of the training staffs who incredibly helped him avoid spending even one day of his career on the injured list. The 5’6″ Kemp also offered a heartfelt message for “undersized” ballplayers everywhere:

“To the undersized ballplayer: I see you, I hear you, and I understand you. With all of the metrics and data in the game of baseball today, there is still one measurement they can’t compute: your heart. Continue to play the game the right way and respect it. The game will reward you, I promise. Leave no doubt and give everything you have like someone is watching you play baseball for the first time. I’m rooting for you all.”

Kemp, 33, was the Astros’ fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt back in 2013. He was in the big leagues three years later, appearing in 59 games and hitting .217/.296/.325 in a small sample of 136 plate appearances. Kemp received a fleeting cup of coffee with the 2017 Astros (39 plate appearances) but landed his first real look in the majors in 2018. He totaled 97 games and 295 plate appearances for Houston that year and delivered a nice .263/.351/.392 batting line (110 wRC+) with a strong 10.8% walk rate against a tiny 14.9% strikeout rate.

The following season, Kemp turned in a decent performance through 66 games with Houston before being flipped to the Cubs in a deadline deal that brought catcher Martin Maldonado to the Astros. He struggled in a short 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 move by the Athletics. Kemp delivered the best work of his career in green and gold, spending four seasons with the A’s and playing quite well for the first three. From 2020-22, he posted a .252/.341/.361 slash (105 wRC+) with savvy baserunning and quality defense at both second base and in left field. Kemp never hit for much power, but during that three-year peak with the A’s he drew walks at a 10.5% clip and flashed continually plus bat-to-ball skills, fanning in only 12.5% of his plate appearances.

The 2023 season was a tough one, as Kemp hit just .209/.303/.304 in 417 turns at the plate. Oakland cut him loose that offseason. Kemp went on to sign minor league deals with the Reds, Orioles and Twins. He briefly appeared in the majors with Baltimore last season, getting into five games but going hitless in 10 plate appearances.

Kemp spent a dozen years in pro ball, saw MLB time in nine seasons with four teams, and will retire with a .237/.324/.351 batting line in 739 MLB games and 2247 plate appearances. He picked up more than six years of big league service and, per Baseball-Reference, secured more than $8.5MM in career earnings (in addition to his $250K signing bonus out of the draft). Kemp was a popular teammate and a fan favorite based on his self-described “grinder mentality” on the diamond. Congrats to Tony on a successful career, and best wishes in whatever steps lie ahead.

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Athletics Baltimore Orioles Chicago Cubs Houston Astros Retirement Tony Kemp

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View Comments (26)
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26 Comments

  1. Bird Dog

    5 months ago

    Always respected Tony Kemp’s game. His quote to undersized ballplayers gives me chills. Much respect and all the best Tony!

    15
    Reply
  2. gbs42

    5 months ago

    Nice career and great shout-out to those not blessed with the physique of a typical modern-day ballplayer.

    11
    Reply
  3. TrillionaireTeamOperator

    5 months ago

    I remember when he came up with the A’s. Scrappy Doo’d, for sure.

    2
    Reply
    • TrillionaireTeamOperator

      5 months ago

      *was on the A’s… forgot he wasn’t drafted or debuted by them.

      Reply
  4. SFGiantsin2023

    5 months ago

    “Kemp, 33, was the Astros’ fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt back in 2023”? Think you might be about 10 years off.

    1
    Reply
  5. BaseballBrian

    5 months ago

    He got all those stats despite being drafted in ’23, wow that’s impressive.

    1
    Reply
  6. Rsox

    5 months ago

    I could see Kemp joining a coaching staff in the near future

    5
    Reply
  7. This one belongs to the Reds

    5 months ago

    Like many of us in the majors and minors, we quit when no one signed us anymore.

    Good luck in retirement. Hope you stay in the game somehow.

    4
    Reply
    • Acoss1331

      5 months ago

      I’m sure we’ll see Tony as a coach in the future no doubt.

      2
      Reply
  8. straightuphonestguy

    5 months ago

    Love the gratitude. Contrats Tony!

    3
    Reply
  9. ESPNSUCKS

    5 months ago

    He had a nice run with the Athletics. I was able big fan of his. Big congrats!

    4
    Reply
    • southern lion

      5 months ago

      Love the screen name!

      1
      Reply
      • ESPNSUCKS

        5 months ago

        Thank you

        Reply
  10. Dranas

    5 months ago

    Thanks for the good times in Oakland Tony!

    3
    Reply
  11. loandinside

    5 months ago

    Such a great, respectful teammate on the A’s who at times flashed brilliance on the field. Will miss his infectious smile, laughter, and heart he put into the game. Enjoy your retirement Tony!

    2
    Reply
  12. sugoi51

    5 months ago

    Perhaps Kemp’s greatest play occurred during a walkoff celebration when he saved Justin Verlander’s head after he swatted away a bubble gum tub that he himself tossed. mlb.com/amp/cut4/justin-verlander-almost-hit-in-wa…

    3
    Reply
    • MacGromit

      5 months ago

      @sugoi51

      I’d never seen that clip of him skying for the rejection. love Verlander’s tweet in response. something like “Motombo’d his own shot No. ☝️ No. ☝️ No. ☝️”

      1
      Reply
      • sugoi51

        5 months ago

        @MacGromit that’s awesome’

        Reply
  13. jorge78

    5 months ago

    Good luck in the future Tony!

    Reply
  14. Blah blah blah

    5 months ago

    I remember he randomly had that amazing year in 2021 where he put up 3.3 WAR in under 400 plate appearances

    Cubs should have kept him instead of trying Jason Kipnis

    Reply
  15. southern lion

    5 months ago

    I always liked Tony Kemp. Great attitude and a great smile. Huge heart. Congratulations on the retirement Tony.

    1
    Reply
  16. Astros_fan_in_Aus

    5 months ago

    He deserves all the praise coming his way. Best wishes in your retirement mate.

    Reply
  17. WideWorldofSports

    5 months ago

    Man… first Shawn Kemp posterizes the entire NBA in the ’90s, and now Tony Kemp calls it a career after grinding through MLB with heart and hustle. Two brothers, two leagues, one legacy. Shawn brought the power, Tony brought the precision. From alley-oops to sacrifice bunts, the Kemp family did it all. Respect to both legends—different arenas, same DNA.

    Reply
  18. davengmusic

    5 months ago

    Blocked by another diminutive player in Altuve, he still carved out a pretty nice career for himself. He definitely had heart above all. Do well in the next chapter, sir!

    1
    Reply
  19. ❤️ MuteButton

    5 months ago

    Tony’s positivity was contagious to his teammates. Sometimes a player’s true value is not always seen in his statistics.

    Reply
  20. astros_fan_84

    5 months ago

    8.5M in career earnings seems so light in today’s game. He never really made above the minimum it seems. Oh well, it was a nice career.

    Reply

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