The baseball community is mourning the loss of Jon Kemmer, a former Allegany College All-American, who tragically passed away at the age of 35 on Sunday. Kemmer died in a single-vehicle accident while driving from Houston to Santa Fe, Texas.
Kemmer's standout collegiate career began at Allegany College, where he played from 2009 to 2011. His sophomore season was nothing short of spectacular, earning him first-team All-American honors. He dominated at the plate, leading the Trojans with a remarkable .448 batting average, 64 hits, 61 runs, 12 home runs, and 67 RBIs. He left the program holding records for doubles (44) and RBIs (142).
After Allegany, he continued to excel, transferring to Division II Clarion University and later to NAIA Brewton-Parker College. At Clarion, he was a first-team All-Atlantic Region selection, boasting a .387 average and a stellar 1.207 OPS. His performance at Brewton-Parker earned him another first-team All-American nod.
His talent propelled him to the professional ranks, where he was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 21st round of the 2013 MLB Draft. Over seven seasons, Kemmer climbed through the minor league systems of the Astros, Minnesota Twins, and Los Angeles Dodgers, reaching the Triple-A level. In his final affiliated season in 2019 with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, he posted a solid .252/.360/.445 slash line.
Kemmer extended his playing career internationally with stints in Mexico and the Dominican Republic, last taking the field in 2020. His journey from junior college star to professional prospect is a testament to his dedication and skill in the game he loved.
