With the 1st pick of the 5th Round (137th overall), the Astros select 5'7" 165lb Tony Kemp, a Junior left-handed hitting 2B from Vanderbilt.
Kemp, like fellow Vandy Commodore Conrad Gregor, was a 2013 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American. He was also 2013 SEC Player of the Year, first-team All SEC, and SEC All-Defensive Team. He posted a .398/.480/.496 line with 0 HR and 33 RBI in 256 AB.
Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin (again):
"Tony is a special talent. 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 sometime."
Kemp (who is 1.03 Altuves tall) had this to say about his SEC Player of the Year Award:
"It’s nice just to be recognized in that I have absolutely no home runs. It’s exciting just for people to know you don’t have to be a big, strong power hitter to get an award like this."
College Baseball Daily ranked him #80 in their 2013 preseason Top 100 college players. His Vanderbilt bio page is here.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
