“Kemp is my brother. He’s going to be in my [December] wedding.” Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa was reacting to the news that popular teammate, Tony Kemp, had been designated for assignment (DFA), July 26, to make room on Houston’s roster for his own return from a recent injury.

“I’ve been playing with him since I was in low A,” Correa continued with more sadness than even he expected. “He’s like family to me. I talked to him before it was announced. Obviously, it was an emotional talk between me and him. But, at the same time, I hope he goes to a team where he gets to play every single day and show his true potential.”

Kemp will get to play every single day for the Chicago Cubs, as the Astros reunite with catcher Martin Maldonado, in a July 31 trade.

In 66 games this season with the Astros, the 5’6″, 165-pound Kemp has a .227 batting average with 23 runs scored and 17 RBIs. His career MLB average is .240.

Wall in the Family

Born in Franklin, Tennessee as a 1991 Halloween baby, Kemp attended Franklin’s Centennial High School and was a three-sport star –baseball, football, and basketball. He attended at the same time as Kelsea Ballerini, graduating a year before the Grammy-nominated country singer/songwriter.

Kemp’s older brother, Corey, was a big –six feet and 240 pounds of big– influence on the young Tony. Playing ball endlessly in their Franklin backyard, Tony, growing up a St. Louis Cardinals fan, only wanted to follow in Corey’s baseball footsteps.

Centennial actually retired Corey and Tony’s jersey numbers, and the boys made up half of the high school’s inaugural Wall of Fame in 2016.

“When [Centennial] first called me, I said, ‘Are you sure you don’t mean my brother?'” Corey Kemp, 33, told Franklin Home Page. “This is very special, because we always wanted to play together. But, because we were so far apart in age [six years], it never happened. To be up there with him, sit next to him and be in the first class with him is incredible.”

Said Tony: “It’s just an honor and a blessing to be getting into the Wall of Fame, especially with my brother. I came to Centennial and was always known as Corey’s little brother. I think it’s pretty cool to be in the same category as the guy that taught me everything about sports.”

Called to Be a Commodore (#Kempin’Ain’tEasy)

Wanting to follow Corey to the college diamond after high school, Tony committed to East Carolina University, one of only two schools to offer him a scholarship. Despite being a nine-hour drive from Franklin, Tony felt ECU was his destiny.

Two months later, a phone call from Vanderbilt head baseball coach Tim Corbin convinced Tony that the much closer Nashville-based Vanderbilt was a better fit for him. A full-ride scholarship helped sweeten the deal.

“Tony is a special talent,” Corbin said at the time. “It takes a rare athlete to make a move from the outfield to second base in the middle of the season and play it proficiently. His physical tools are uncommon and his positive personality is infectious. He is one the most exciting players we have had in our program in quite some time.”

Houston drafted the left-handed hitter in the fifth round of the 2013 draft.

“…Keep Everyone Laughing and Happy” (That “Hug Thing”)

“He’s a guy that probably deserved a lot more playing time but came in smiling and ready to cheer on his brothers and his teammates. He always kept us on our feet. He kept us laughing, he always had these little one-liners that would come out of nowhere to keep everyone laughing and happy.” — Astros outfielder Josh Reddick

He’d tell you it probably first happened during his minor league tenure, probably sometime in 2016 or 2017 while he was with Houston’s AAA Fresno Grizzlies. His first hug in the Astros’ dugout is generally considered to be his leap into the arms of DH Evan Gattis in June during the 2018 season.

In fact, Kemp recently told Houston’s KTRK-TV, “In Triple-A, [where] we had guys come together, and we wanted to celebrate home runs and it kind of turned into a hugging battle. Coming here, having Gattis hit some home runs, jump in his arms, and we thought it was funny, kind of our handshake.”

The “Hugs for Homers” thing, though, might have been first spotted after his first collegiate home run for Vanderbilt in 2012, even if it didn’t have a name or a wildly popular meme that immediately followed as it did later.

The entire Vandy team even poured onto the field to greet Kemp after he crossed home plate, many happily hugging the elated young Commodore. A walk-off homer? Nope. Just a first-inning bomb, but he was greeted like a conquering war hero.

Kemp’s last home run for Houston (his seventh on the year) was on July 20 against the Texas Rangers, as he went opposite field to the Crawford Boxes in the sixth inning. After a leaping fake high-five with George Springer just before entering the dugout, Kemp hopped into the accommodating arms of Houston’s massive new slugger Yordan Alvarez. This also may have been one of Tony’s last “official” hugs in Astro orange.

It was after one of Alvarez’ first homers in early June that Kemp feigned being completely bowled over by a Yordan high-five upon greeting him into the dugout. Yuli Gurriel, trailing Alvarez into the dugout could be seen chuckling at Tony faking a backward fall from the apparent force of the 6’5″ rookie’s powerful gesture. Tony’s gentle, self-effacing humor will also be missed.

Related: Tony Kemp’s “Hugs For Homers” Helps Houston Kids

Tony and His Fans

Springing forth from Tony’s in-dugout hugs for home run hitters was a philanthropic endeavor that will live on long after he hangs up his cleats. Kemp has now raised well over $5,000 for the Houston Astros Youth Academy, the flagship program of the Houston Astros Foundation.

A couple of t-shirts commemorating the “Hugs for Homers” dugout fest have even been produced, with proceeds going to the Astros Youth Academy. The ‘Stros even fashioned a game giveaway dual bobblehead, featuring Kemp catching Houston second baseman, Jose Altuve, mid-leap after a homer.

During games, Tony is more than happy to pose for selfies with fans and takes time to sign autographs, both on the field and in front of his locker for kids who send him their Kemp baseball cards.

Just a couple days before his release, Kemp participated in a pre-game gender reveal with a local couple eager to discover the sex of their eventual newborn. The couple stood together near the Astro dugout, with the husband ready to under-hand a pitch to Tony, bat in hand about 20 feet away.

The nervous dad-to-be tossed the powder-filled breakaway “ball” right into Tony’s wheelhouse. Kemp turned and clobbered the sphere into a cloud of blue dust, sending the exultant couple dancing joyously around in foul territory. It didn’t take long for Tony to join in the celebration, jumping into Dad’s welcoming arms, bat still in hand!

One fan recently tweeted: “It is quite noticeable that you are a joyful member of the Astros. You are always excited for the successes of your teammates. Way to be a # RoleModel.” To which Tony replied, “Love this team!”

“To have a guy like that be that supportive of all the guys playing every single day, not complain about it, keep his head down and work hard, it was an honor to play with him,” Kemp’s outfield partner George Springer said the week of Kemp’s departure.

“The player he is is fantastic but the person he is is even better. He was a clubhouse presence whether he realizes it or not.

“I’m obviously sad he’s gone. I think personally, for him, whatever happens to him, I hope it’s the best. I hope he can play every day wherever he goes. Selfishly, I’d like him still around. I love me some Tony Kemp. I need him in my life every day just being who he is.”