Latest news with #TonyKemp
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former Vanderbilt star, Centennial grad Tony Kemp announces MLB retirement after nine seasons
Tony Kemp has called an end to his baseball career. Kemp, a former Vanderbilt star and Centennial graduate, announced his retirement from baseball on social media on May 15. "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 social media statement. "... I want to say thank you to the game of baseball. A sport that humbles you daily, but you come back for more each day because it presents a new set of challenges. Advertisement "A game where you have the utmost confidence knowing it's a game of failure. Thank you for teaching me so many life lessons and giving me the opportunity to provide for my family." More: Vanderbilt baseball's series win over Tennessee is rivalry statement: Here's what we learned Kemp played for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, earning a World Series ring in 2017 with Houston. Kemp was named a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award four times during his time with the Athletics, which is given to the player "who demonstrates the values Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente displayed in his commitment to community and understanding the value of helping others," per the MLB. Advertisement Ahead of his fifth-round selection by the Astros in the 2013 MLB Draft, Kemp was a standout under Tim Corbin at Vanderbilt. Kemp was named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2011 as Vanderbilt reached the College World Series, where Kemp was named to the all-tournament team. In 2013 he was named SEC Player of the Year, becoming the fourth Vanderbilt baseball player to reach 100 hits in a season along the way. "To my head coach at Vanderbilt, Tim Corbin, you took a chance on a 5'6" 150-pound baseball player out of Franklin, Tennessee," Kemp wrote. "Thank you for changing my life. You challenged and pushed me to limits that unlocked my true potential especially when it came to mental toughness." Kemp's roots are in Middle Tennessee, where he starred for Centennial from 2006 to 2010, hitting .544 with 24 stolen bases his senior year and later earning a spot on The Tennessean's All-Decade high school baseball team. Harrison Campbell covers sports for The Daily Herald and The Tennessean. Email him at hcampbell@ and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @hccamp. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tony Kemp, former Vanderbilt and Centennial star, retiring from MLB
Fox Sports
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Tony Kemp, who spent nine seasons as a spark plug in places like Houston and Oakland, retires
Associated Press Tony Kemp is calling it a career. The veteran utility player announced his retirement on social media Thursday after nine seasons in the majors. The 5-foot-6 Kemp hit .237 with 35 home runs and 184 RBIs in 739 games for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles. Kemp broke in with the Astros in 2016, three years after the club selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt. He became a regular by 2018. Kemp moved from Houston to Chicago at the trade deadline in 2019, then signed with Oakland before the 2020 season. He enjoyed his best season in 2021, hitting a career-best .279 in 131 games and became a fan favorite in part because of his size, something he acknowledged in his retirement announcement. 'To the undersized ballplayer: I see you, I hear you, and I understand you," Kemp wrote. '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.' Kemp signed with three different teams in 2024, including twice with Cincinnati. He made a handful of appearances with the Orioles last spring before being released. Kemp spent time in the minors with Minnesota and the Reds last summer but didn't return to the big leagues. 'Perspective is all we have in life,' Kemp wrote. 'So if I could go back in time and tell my 12-year-old self I would accomplish: a World Series ring, a 4x Roberto Clemente Nominee and to be the shortest designated hitter in postseason history, I would simply say, 'Where do I sign up?'' ___ AP MLB: recommended
Hamilton Spectator
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Tony Kemp, who spent nine seasons as a spark plug in places like Houston and Oakland, retires
Tony Kemp is calling it a career. The veteran utility player announced his retirement on social media Thursday after nine seasons in the majors. The 5-foot-6 Kemp hit .237 with 35 home runs and 184 RBIs in 739 games for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles. Kemp broke in with the Astros in 2016, three years after the club selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt. He became a regular by 2018. Kemp moved from Houston to Chicago at the trade deadline in 2019, then signed with Oakland before the 2020 season. He enjoyed his best season in 2021, hitting a career-best .279 in 131 games and became a fan favorite in part because of his size, something he acknowledged in his retirement announcement. 'To the undersized ballplayer: I see you, I hear you, and I understand you,' Kemp wrote. '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.' Kemp signed with three different teams in 2024, including twice with Cincinnati. He made a handful of appearances with the Orioles last spring before being released. Kemp spent time in the minors with Minnesota and the Reds last summer but didn't return to the big leagues. 'Perspective is all we have in life,' Kemp wrote. 'So if I could go back in time and tell my 12-year-old self I would accomplish: a World Series ring, a 4x Roberto Clemente Nominee and to be the shortest designated hitter in postseason history, I would simply say, 'Where do I sign up?'' ___ AP MLB:
Winnipeg Free Press
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Tony Kemp, who spent nine seasons as a spark plug in places like Houston and Oakland, retires
Tony Kemp is calling it a career. The veteran utility player announced his retirement on social media Thursday after nine seasons in the majors. The 5-foot-6 Kemp hit .237 with 35 home runs and 184 RBIs in 739 games for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles. Kemp broke in with the Astros in 2016, three years after the club selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 amateur draft out of Vanderbilt. He became a regular by 2018. Kemp moved from Houston to Chicago at the trade deadline in 2019, then signed with Oakland before the 2020 season. He enjoyed his best season in 2021, hitting a career-best .279 in 131 games and became a fan favorite in part because of his size, something he acknowledged in his retirement announcement. 'To the undersized ballplayer: I see you, I hear you, and I understand you,' Kemp wrote. '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.' Kemp signed with three different teams in 2024, including twice with Cincinnati. He made a handful of appearances with the Orioles last spring before being released. Kemp spent time in the minors with Minnesota and the Reds last summer but didn't return to the big leagues. 'Perspective is all we have in life,' Kemp wrote. 'So if I could go back in time and tell my 12-year-old self I would accomplish: a World Series ring, a 4x Roberto Clemente Nominee and to be the shortest designated hitter in postseason history, I would simply say, 'Where do I sign up?'' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. ___ AP MLB:
Washington Post
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Tony Kemp, who spent nine seasons as a spark plug in places like Houston and Oakland, retires
Tony Kemp is calling it a career. The veteran utility player announced his retirement on social media Thursday after nine seasons in the majors. The 5-foot-6 Kemp hit .237 with 35 home runs and 184 RBIs in 739 games for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles.
