Here's why Kemp went all out on stunning catch attempt

LOS ANGELES -- As the days waned until the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline, there was a growing sentiment that Tony Kemp would be moved to a contender in need of a valuable utility player.

The Deadline came and went. Kemp, who entered Wednesday night batting .301 over his last 36 games, is still a member of a rebuilding A’s squad that finds itself in last place of the American League West standings. But that is not going to stop him from going all out on every pitch of every game from now until the end of the season.

In Oakland’s 10-1 loss to the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, Kemp nearly came up with what would have been one of the greatest catches in quite some time.

The moment came in the sixth inning. Freddie Freeman fouled off a slider from left-hander Kirby Snead that was slicing toward the seats just to the right of the left-field foul pole. Despite the game being out of hand -- the A’s trailed, 9-1, at the time -- Kemp ferociously chased down the ball and leaped over the short wall.

For a moment, it appeared as though Kemp had come up with a sensational catch. However, after third-base umpire Ryan Additon raced down the line to check on Kemp -- who was helped upright by a fan wearing Dodgers gear and two security guards -- it was determined that the ball was not caught. Television replays showed that Kemp got his glove on the ball, but couldn't secure it as his momentum carried him over the wall and into the fan's arms.

“You don’t see many players in the game that, the score is 9-1, going full force into a wall and giving himself up to make a play,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “It says a lot about Tony’s character.”

At what point in his route did Kemp make the decision to risk it all?

“Left on left with a ball like that tailing to the left with a little bit of fade to it, I just had to go for it once I had a little bead on it,” Kemp said. “I gave my best effort. You never know when those chances to make good plays like that are going to ever come again. If you can go for it and try to make a play that saves an out, you do it.”

To the average observer, Kemp going so hard for that ball in that situation begs the question: Why sacrifice your body in a blowout? For Kemp, the answer is easy.

“You’ve got pitchers out there who are pitching for their families,” Kemp said. “That’s kind of how I look at it. If I can make an out and go get it, I’m going to try. The score of the game doesn’t matter.”

That type of attitude is exactly why Kemp sticking around post-Trade Deadline is important. Even as the A’s were handed their 79th loss in a second consecutive lost season that has them on pace for well over 100 defeats, Kemp brings value to a clubhouse full of young players learning what it means to be an Oakland A. It’s a culture that Kotsay has been building since the day he took over as manager in December 2021 -- one of playing hard at all times and never giving up, regardless of the circumstances.

“I just want to teach these young guys things about the game,” Kemp said. “The job is not done here. … Obviously, we’re not going to be in the playoffs this year. But there’s a lot more to teach these guys about what being a big leaguer is about. I’m happy to help out in any way possible.”

With promising rookies such as Tyler Soderstrom, Zack Gelof and Jordan Diaz now in the big leagues and expected to see regular playing time over these final two months, the A’s believe this second half is laying the foundation for what will be the next wave of winning baseball.

Set to enter free agency after this season, Kemp is unsure if he will be part of that hopeful turnaround. Regardless, his focus is on providing leadership on and off the field the rest of this season, while also leaving a good lasting impression on the Oakland faithful.

“If I have seven more weeks with the A’s and don’t come back, these four years have been awesome,” Kemp said. “I hope I get remembered as a guy that just always laid it out there on the field.”