Kemmer Traded To The Minnesota Twins, Will Play In Rochester, NY (07/09/2018)
(Photo image from Astros.com) Jon Kemmer
(By CSZ Sports Writer Kenn Staub) The Houston Astros announced Friday, June 6 that they had traded Clarion Area High School and Little League product Jon Kemmer to the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations.
This move set local fans abuzz when it was learned that Kemmer, at the time playing for the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast league, would be assigned to the Twins’ AAA International League affiliate in Rochester (NY), the Red Wings. Rochester, only four hours away from Clarion, plays a host of teams within relatively easy driving distance, including two in Pennsylvania: thw Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Allentown) and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
Kemmer was drafted by the Astros in 2013 during the 21st round out of Brewton-Parker College (GA) and assigned to their Short Season A team in the New York-Penn League, the Tri-City Valley Cats. In 2014 he started the season with the Quad City River Bandits of the Midwest League (A), but was promoted by the Astros mid-season to the Lancaster JetHawks of the California League (Advanced A). Kemmer moved up a step on the minor league ladder in 2015, being assigned by Houston to its AA affiliate, the Corpus Christie Hooks (Texas League).
Following a successful season in Corpus Christie, during which he was named the Hooks Player of the Year and a Texas League Post-Season All-Star, Kemmer was a 2016 non-roster invitee to Spring Training by the Astros. He would be invited to Spring Training by the Astros in 2017 and 2018. On each occasion he was assigned to the AAA Fresno Grizzlies when Houston broke camp.
(Photo from Astrosfuture.com)
At the time of Friday’s trade, Kemmer was batting .254 for the Grizzlies with 13 “Jon Bombs,” as his home runs have become known, and 44 RBI. In his three years at AAA he hit .272, with 47 homers and 170 RBI.
Kemmer expressed his gratitude to the Astros organization and optimism for the future via Twitter on Friday afternoon:
“I wanted to thank @astros for the opportunity I have been given the last 5 plus years. Now it is time to start fresh with my new team the @Twins. So excited to see where the road takes me now!”
He also took to Facebook to thank his many family, friends, and fans for their support:
“Wanted to thank everyone who reached out to wish me good luck on my new journey. I appreciate all the wishes. I have a great group of friends and family.”
Since the trade, Kemmer has appeared in two games and recorded a double.