Kemp at ease with duties at second base
While with Class AA Corpus Christi during the 2015 season, Tony Kemp was summoned for a meeting with manager Rodney Linares and other Astros personnel.
A college outfielder who transitioned to the infield midway through his career, Kemp won a minor league gold glove for his work at second base during the 2014 season. One year later, Linares laid out the future and paved the groundwork for another switch.
Jose Altuve manned second base for the major league club. Chances for Kemp to usurp him were slight. They suggested a move to the outfield.
“I was comfortable with it,” said Kemp, 27, a veteran of 202 major league games. “It didn’t matter what route it was to get here, I just wanted to get here and prove I could play. It was a good journey. It was fun. The obstacles you had to overcome are the ones you always remember.”
Kemp’s start at second base Thursday against the White Sox was the fourth of his major league career and second of this series. He entered this season with two big league starts at second, blocked by Altuve — on the IL with a hamstring strain — and manager A.J. Hinch’s preference to play Yuli Gurriel there for defensive purposes.
Times exist, though, when Hinch has little choice. The skipper lauded Kemp’s play in last week’s series opener at Fenway Park, when Aledmys Diaz was injured and Kemp replaced him at second base during the second inning. Kemp made three putouts in the first four innings he worked, including a sliding stop deep to his left to conclude an inning for starter Gerrit Cole.
“That was a little bit of a surprise, but these guys that are on the bench on this team are always ready,” Kemp said. “It’s another opportunity to play and showcase what you can do. Just have fun with it.”
Another Biggio in major leagues
Cavan Biggio, son of Astros legend and Hall of Famer Craig Biggio, will be promoted to the
Blue Jays’ roster Friday, according to multiple reports.
Ranked the ninth-best prospect
in Toronto’s farm system by Baseball America, Biggio slashed .306/.440/.507 in 41 games with Class AAA Buffalo this seasonn. He is part of a loaded Jays farm system that includes three legacy names — Biggio, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
A utility infielder who plays mostly second and third base, Biggio, 24, was Toronto’s fifthround pick in 2016. The Astros took his older brother, Conor ,in the 34th round of the 2015 draft.
Conor and Cavan attended St. Thomas High School. Biggio’s daughter, Quinn, attended St. Agnes Academy. Quinn plays softball at Notre Dame, where both of her brothers attended college.
Odds and ends
Manager A.J. Hinch offered no update on Jose Altuve (strained left hamstring). Altuve did pregame work on the field and is scheduled to embark on a minor league rehab assignment soon. Details of his assignment have not been released. …Former Astros pitcher Shane Reynolds will represent the club at the MLB draft June 3. The Astros will pick 32nd in the first round.