The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that slugger Matt Kemp will begin his rehab assignment with the Triple A Albuquerque Isotopes today. Kemp has been out of the Dodgers lineup and on the disabled list since May 30 with a strained right hamstring.
Kemp had struggled this season before getting hurt. He is hitting .251/.305/.335 with just two homers and 17 RBIs in 51 games this season.
Last season Kemp hit .303/.367/.538 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs, in 106 games. In 2011, Kemp hit .324/.399/.586 with 39 home runs, 126, RBIs, 115 runs and 40 stolen bases in 2011, good for second in NL MVP voting.
According to manager Don Mattingly, the plan is for Kemp to DH on Saturday and then to play a couple games in the field. If all goes well he could rejoin the Dodger lineup in the middle of the week.
The return of Kemp would likely see him take back his job in center field. The Dodgers hope to field an outfield including Kemp, rookie sensation Yasiel Puig in left field, and Andre Ethier in right field. Such a lineup certainly has the potential to cause nightmares for opposing pitchers and managers. Unfortunately Ethier has recently missed games with knee soreness, however it is hoped that he will not need to go on the Disabled List, and will soon return to the lineup.
The Dodgers currently sit in last in the NL West, quite the disappointment given the amount of money the team has spent over the last two seasons. However they are just 8.5 games behind the first place Arizona Diamondbacks. It is hoped that with a healthy lineup, the Dodgers can begin to make a run at a playoff spot. They will need to get hot and start making up ground soon though.
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