Playing the game of baseball is something that many youngsters enjoy doing and as you climb up the ladder the funnel certainly gets smaller. A slim percentage of players reach the highest level and get to play in the Major Leagues. Some pursue a coaching career when their playing days are over and stay in uniform. For others they still go to the ballpark on a daily basis but become creative in a different way and that is becoming a broadcaster. Recently retired Tony Kemp has made the transition from uniformed player to Athletics broadcaster.
MLBbro Tony Kemp Transitions To Broadcasting Booth
Kemp had a decorated collegiate career at Vanderbilt University and earned multiple Southeastern Conference awards while playing for the Commodores and helped them reach the College World Series in 2011. His standout play was why the Houston Astros selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. After a couple of seasons in the lower levels of the minor leagues, Kemp hit over a combined .300 in 2015 while playing in both Double A and Triple A. His steady hitting continued in 2016 for Triple A Fresno, and he made his Major League debut on May 17 of that year. While he was part of the World Series championship team in 2017, he didn’t get to see his first on field post season action until 2018 as Houston advanced to the ALCS.
Kemp had a brief 2019 stop with the Cubs but spent the next four seasons playing for the Oakland Athletics. He immediately became a fan favorite and also had no problem establishing himself as a clubhouse leader. He was the Athletics nominee for the Roberto Clemente award for four consecutive seasons. The award is given to the Major Leaguer who best represents the game through positive community off the field contributions.
Roberto Clemente Award | MLBbros Tony Kemp and J-Hey Kid Nominated
Kemp wore a Major League uniform for the last time in 2024 appearing in five games for the Baltimore Orioles. He officially retired on May 15, 2025. “What a joy to have managed him, been part of his career” said Athletics Manager Mark Kotsay in an interview with MLB.com about his former player.
Kemp joined the Athletics broadcast crew last Monday and began to share the expertise that a nine-year veteran has in the game. His Monday broadcast wasn’t the first time this year that he has gotten behind the microphone to talk baseball.
Kemp was part of the SEC network that covered Vanderbilt Commodores games. “It was a little weird at first, but I enjoyed it. I’m from Nashville so to know what the head coach and some of those guys were thinking, it was a good time” he shared on the NBC Sports California broadcast recently.
Kemp may be wearing a multitude of hats this season. In addition to being part of the pre and postgame television coverage for the Athletics he is also slated to be the game analyst for select games on the radio and TV broadcasts. Kemp played in 354 games in the outfield and 339 games in the infield in his career. If anyone knows how to balance baseball duties, it’s the 33-year-old Kemp.
