Indiana University Athletics
Hoosier Minor League Report: Joe Kemp
9/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Sept. 7, 2005
Throughout the history of Indiana baseball, a large contingent of Hoosiers have gone on to play at the professional level. There are currently 10 former IU standouts playing professional ball and in the upcoming weeks IUHOOSIERS.com will take a look at how each player is doing with their respective ballclubs.
After catching up with Washington Nationals' farmhand Set Bynum, Joe Kemp is up next. Kemp just wrapped up his career with Indiana (2001-05) and left his mark on the Hoosier program. In his final season, Kemp reached career highs with a .327 batting average, 10 home runs, 63 RBI, 59 runs, 72 hits, 120 total bases and 12 stolen bases. He was named Big Ten Player of the Week on two occasions and hit for the cycle against Michigan State on May 7.
Kemp had multiple hits in 20 contests and finished with a team-leading 19 multi-RBI games, including a five-RBI effort when he hit for the cycle. Additionally, he returned to the mound for the first time since 2002, earning his first win in three years against Memphis on Feb. 26 and capturing his first career save versus Miami (Ohio) on April 13.
The 6-1 right fielder boasted a .304 career batting average with 22 home runs, 146 RBI, 140 runs, 44 doubles and 12 triples. He sits in the IU career top 10 for doubles, triples and extra-base hits.
Kemp was drafted by the Rangers in the 42nd round of the 2004 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft and signed with the club at the conclusion of the Hoosiers' 2005 campaign. The Bowie, Md., native is one of two players from last year's team to continue his career at the professional level (Corby Heckman - Seattle).
Playing with the Spokane Indians of the Northwest League (short-season Single-A), Kemp has seen action in 45 games. He is batting at a .262 clip (37-for-141) to go along with two home runs, 18 RBI, 21 runs, four doubles, four triples, 19 bases on balls and nine stolen bases.
Additionally, Kemp has shown versatility in the field, spending time in left field, center field, first base, third base and designated hitter. Despite moving all around the yard, Kemp has only committed one error on the season.
