TONY KEMP NEWS

Continues surge Wednesday Kemp went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs in a loss to the Guardians on Wednesday.

Impact Kemp authored one of two multi-hit efforts for the Athletics on the night, extending his hitting streak to six games in the process. As rotten a string of luck at the plate as the veteran endured over most of the first two months-plus of the season, the pendulum seems to have swung completely in the opposite direction -- with the help of a massive boost in hard-contact rate from 21.2 percent to 46.7 percent, Kemp is sporting an astounding .538 BABIP during his current hot stretch that thoroughly dwarfs the .163 figure he was saddled with from Opening Day through June 14.

JUNE 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gaining playing time at second base Kemp will start at second base and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Guardians.

Impact At least for the time being, Kemp seems to have re-emerged as the Athletics' preferred starting second baseman against right-handed pitching. He'll stick in the lineup for the third straight game while Jace Peterson slides back over to third base in place of Jonah Bride, who appears to have moved into a reserve role.

JUNE 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kemp showing signs of turnaround with 5-game hit streak, great catch CLEVELAND -- In what has been a nightmarish start to the season for Tony Kemp, the past week has provided the second baseman hope that his l...

JUNE 21, 2023 • MLB.COM

Breaks home run drought Kemp went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and an additional run scored in Tuesday's loss against Cleveland.

Impact Kemp swatted his second long ball of 2023 and his first since April 21 (38 games) to extend his hit streak to five games. Leading up to the hit streak, Kemp went hitless over 23 at-bats but has gone 6-for-12 (.500) with three runs scored since.

JUNE 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Extends hit streak in loss Kemp went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk in a loss to the Phillies on Sunday.

Impact The bar is lowered for what qualifies as a hot streak for Kemp thus far in 2023, so his fourth straight game with a hit is noteworthy by those standards. The profound extent of the veteran's struggles has been somewhat of a mystery by the metrics -- he's carrying an impressive 11.3 percent walk rate and minuscule 11.8 percent strikeout rate -- yet a .182 BABIP has been a major albatross. Kemp may finally be starting to come into some better luck when making contact, but regular playing time is anything but assured on a non-contending team as the season heads into the heart of summer.

JUNE 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rare success out of bottom of order Kemp went 1-for-2 with two walks and a run in a loss to the Rays on Thursday.

Impact Kemp drew his first start in the last four games and was productive with the help of his fourth multi-walk game of the season. The struggling veteran had been mired in an 0-for-23 slump that encompassed his previous 12 games going into Thursday, so the eventful night at the plate was an especially welcome sight. Despite his ugly .150 average and .459 OPS, Kemp's 12.4 percent strikeout rate is considerably above average and his 11.2 percent walk rate is the third highest of his career.

JUNE 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes third bag in loss Kemp went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in a loss to the Marlins on Friday.

Impact The veteran, back in the lineup after consecutive off days, was able to achieve at least a modicum of offensive success while operating out of the bottom of the order. Kemp's walk marked only his third time reaching safely in the last eight games (20 plate appearances), with all of those instances coming via a free pass.

JUNE 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting in third straight Kemp is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against Atlanta.

Impact The lefty-hitting Kemp will predictably hit the bench with southpaw Jared Shuster on the bump for Atlanta on Wednesday, but the 31-year-old infielder also sat out Monday and Tuesday, when Oakland faced right-handers Michael Soroka and Bryce Elder. At this point, Kemp appears to have lost hold of a strong-side platoon role at second base while he's sporting a lowly .455 OPS over 162 plate appearances on the season.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Tuesday Kemp isn't starting Tuesday against Atlanta.

Impact Kemp hasn't recorded a hit in his last 14 at-bats, so he will begin Tuesday's contest in the dugout as Oakland searches for offensive production. Aledmys Diaz will take over at second base Tuesday and bat fourth.

MAY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench in series opener Kemp is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta.

Impact Kemp started at second base in four of the past five games but failed to break out of his season-long slumber at the dish, as he went hitless in nine at-bats and reached base twice in 11 plate appearances. He'll cede his spot in the lineup Monday to the newly recalled Jonah Bride, who will man third base while Jace Peterson shifts over to the keystone. If Bride can offer a spark at the plate in what will be his season debut with the big club, Kemp could soon find himself out of the lineup against right-handed pitching on a more regular basis.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Confident in turnaround Kemp, whose .464 OPS ranks him last in MLB among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances, is confident he can snap out of his season-long funk, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com repor...

Impact Kemp is also hitting a meager .077 (3-for-39) with no extra-base hits and just one RBI over his last 16 games, although he's struck out at just a 15.6 percent clip in that span while also being saddled with an absurdly low .094 BABIP. However, that latter figure can't completely be chalked up to bad luck; Kemp has played a role in his undoing by producing just a 9.7 percent line-drive rate and 11.8 percent hard-contact rate in that span, as well as a tiny 1.7 percent barrel rate for the season that places him in the lower fourth percentile of qualified hitters. Kemp also had a forgettable first half a season ago before hitting .278 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 62 post-All-Star-break games, and for the time being, he's hanging on to a regular role at second base against right-handed pitching.

MAY 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads back to bench Kemp is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game in Seattle.

Impact Kemp at started at second base in three of the Athletics' last four matchups with right-handed pitchers, but he'll head to the bench Tuesday with southpaw Marco Gonzales on the hill for Seattle. Even though Oakland recently sent Jordan Diaz back to Triple-A Las Vegas to remove competition for Kemp at second base, the 31-year-old may not be guaranteed a strong-side platoon role while he's holding down an ugly .167/.250/.227 slash line for the season.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench, could lose regular role Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Impact The lefty-hitting Kemp will take a seat with southpaw Andrew Heaney on the bump, but Kemp's opportunities to play regularly against right-handed pitching could soon take a hit, as well. With Aledmys Diaz (hamstring) returning from the injured list Sunday, the Athletics have one less infield spot available in the regular lineup versus righties. Since rookie Jordan Diaz has seemingly played his way into a full-time role and because fellow veteran Jace Peterson holds a 122-point advantage in OPS for the season (.607 to .485), Kemp looks like he could find himself as the odd man out of the lineup more often than not.

MAY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting against southpaw Kemp is not in the starting lineup for Friday's tilt against Texas.

Impact Kemp will take a seat against left-hander Martin Perez. Jordan Diaz will handle second-base duties and hit sixth.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench versus left-hander Kemp will sit Monday versus the the Yankees.

Impact Kemp will remain on the bench Monday as the Athletics face left-hander Nestor Cortes on the mound. Jordan Diaz will draw the start at second base and bat sixth in the series opener with New York.

MAY 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rests against lefty Kemp is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.

Impact The lefty-hitting Kemp will ride the pine Sunday while the Royals bring southpaw Ryan Yarbrough to the hill. Jordan Diaz will spell Kemp at the keystone after having previously sat out in each of the Athletics' previous five games while Oakland opposed right-handed starters.

MAY 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Three-hit night in win Kemp went 3-for-4 with an RBI double, another two-bagger, a walk and a run in a win over the Royals on Friday.

Impact The struggling veteran's three-hit night was part of a long-awaited offensive breakout by the seven-win Athletics and qualified as his most successful performance at the plate of the campaign thus far. Kemp may be finally starting to pick up a bit of momentum with the bat after limping to a .163 average over his first 24 games, as he's now hit safely in three of the last four contests.

MAY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup vs. lefty Kemp is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Impact The 31-year-old was on the bench Saturday with righty Hunter Greene on the mound for Cincinnati, and the second baseman is sitting again Sunday against lefty Nick Lodolo. Kemp has gone 4-for-40 across his past 12 contests, and his playing time could dwindle further without a turnaround soon. Jordan Diaz will man the keystone in his place Sunday.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat against Angels Kemp is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.

Impact Kemp has gone 2-for-7 with a pair of walks over the first two games of the series against the Angels. The 31-year-old will take a seat with Jordan Diaz starting at second base and hitting second against Patrick Sandoval and the Angels.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On base four times Monday Kemp went 2-for-3 with an RBI single and two walks in an extra-inning win over the Angels on Monday.

Impact Kemp was a factor out of the bottom of the order on a prolific night for Athletics bats, putting together his most productive offensive performance of the season yet. The veteran's multi-hit effort was his first since April 12 and helped snap an extended 1-for-26 funk he'd been mired in since that game prior to Monday.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup Kemp will be on the bench Saturday against the Rangers.

Impact Kemp started against the first two lefties the Athletics faced this season, but his off day here against Andrew Heaney means he's now sat against four straight southpaws. Jordan Diaz will start at second base.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Knocks first homer Friday Kemp went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in a win over the Rangers on Friday.

Impact Kemp left the yard for the first time this season in the fifth inning via a 405-foot shot to right center off Jon Gray to bring the Athletics to within 4-2 at the time. The veteran had been mired in an 0-for-21 slump over his previous six games before Friday's productive outing.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits versus lefty Kemp is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

Impact The lefty-hitting Kemp will head to the bench with Chicago bringing southpaw Justin Steele to the hill in the series finale. Rookie Jordan Diaz, who was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day, will fill in for Kemp at second base Wednesday.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes base Friday Kemp went 0-for-3 with an RBI sacrifice fly, a walk and a stolen base in a loss to the Mets on Friday.

Impact Kemp was able to make a modest impact out of the top of the order and rewarded fantasy managers with his second stolen base of the season in the process. The 31-year-old is carrying just a .213 average and .564 OPS through 55 plate appearances, but he's now reached safely in four straight games.

APRIL 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kemp's RBI single in 9th gives A's 4-3 win over Guardians Tony Kemp said he lost sleep over his costly error on Monday. It didn't take him long to make up for it.

APRIL 11, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM