9-Year Veteran Speedster Announces Retirement

May 16, 2025 , , ,
Houston Astros second baseman Tony Kemp hits a home run during 2019 game.

After 12 years of professional baseball and nine seasons in the majors, Tony Kemp is officially hanging up his cleats. 

The 33-year-old utilityman made the announcement Thursday on social media, capping off a career that spanned stints with the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, and Baltimore Orioles. Kemp played in 739 big league games, finishing with a .237 batting average, 35 home runs, and 184 RBIs — but his legacy goes far beyond the numbers.

Kemp was known as a grinder, an undersized 5-foot-6 spark plug who defied odds to become a reliable big leaguer. “To the undersized ballplayer: I see you, I hear you, and I understand you,” Kemp wrote in his heartfelt farewell. “With all of the metrics and data in the game of baseball today, there is still one measurement they can’t compute: your heart.”

A Career Built on Hustle and Heart

Drafted in the fifth round by Houston out of Vanderbilt in 2013, Kemp broke into the majors in 2016 and soon became a fan favorite. He played four seasons each with the Astros and Athletics, plus shorter stints with the Cubs and Orioles. His best season came in 2021 with Oakland, where he hit .279 with an .800 OPS and earned 3.3 bWAR. Kemp never spent a day on the injured list — an impressive testament to his durability and work ethic.

Off the field, Kemp made just as much of an impact. He was a four-time Roberto Clemente Award nominee with Oakland, recognized for his charitable work and leadership in the community.

“I reached my childhood dream of becoming a ‘Big Leaguer,’ and I can’t thank everyone enough who helped me along the way,” he wrote. "I’m rooting for all the undersized kids chasing theirs."

Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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