Forgotten member of the 2019 Cubs calls it a career after 9 MLB seasons

When you think of the 2019 Chicago Cubs, you likely recall how they dropped 10 of their final 12 games, falling completely out of the playoff picture in the process - and costing Joe Maddon his job.

The familiar faces of 2016 were all still at the center of the organization, with Anthony Rizzo winning a Gold Glove and Willson Contreras, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant all earning All-Star selections. At the trade deadline, the acquisition of slugging outfielder Nick Castellanos revitalized the offense - but he wasn't the only July addition: utilityman Tony Kemp came over from the Houston Astros the very same day.

On Thursday, Kemp announced his retirement from Major League Baseball after playing parts of nine seasons with four different clubs, including the Cubs. He spent the bulk of that time in Oakland and Houston, getting cups of coffee in Chicago and Baltimore, as well. The former Vanderbilt standout captured the hearts of fans everywhere and was well-known as an excellent clubhouse presence throughout the league.

Kemp announced his retirement via Instagram:

"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."

Tony Kemp played for the Cubs, three other teams in his MLB career

Down the stretch that year with the Cubs, Kemp struggled offensively, batting just .183/.258/.305, appearing in games at second and in all three outfield positions. Everything clicked for him with the Athletics two years later in 2021, when he turned in the best season of his career, putting up a 3.3 bWAR campaign for an exciting Oakland club.

2024, his final year in the league, was an interesting one. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds in February, only to be released a month later. He played five games with the Orioles, but was then dropped by Baltimore, signing with Twins and (again) Reds before the year was up, never appearing in an MLB game for either club.