2B/OF Tony Kemp retires after nine seasons

Second baseman/outfielder Tony Kemp announced his retirement from Major League Baseball on Thursday after nine seasons.

Kemp, 33, played with the Houston Astros (2016-19), Chicago Cubs (2019), then-Oakland Athletics (2020-23) and Baltimore Orioles (2024).

"Thank you God, for allowing me to be a Major League Baseball player," Kemp wrote on Instagram. "After 12 years of professional baseball and 9 season in the Big Leagues, I've decided to hang up the spikes.

"First, I want to thank my Mom and Dad for driving me all over the country to play in every tournament I could. You guys were always prepared with a cooler that was equipped with sandwiches, snacks, gatorades, and most importantly, a wet towel to keep me cool during those hot summer days on the diamond. The sacrifices you two made allowed me to reach my childhood dream of becoming a 'Big Leaguer' and I can't thank you enough. I love you both very much."

Listed at 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds, Kemp had a career .237 batting average to go along with 35 homers and 184 RBIs in 739 games. He was selected by the Astros in the fifth round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt.

--Field Level Media