The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a remarkable season, and are a near lock to win the National League West. They have done so without one of their best players as Matt Kemp has missed most of the season with shoulder, ankle, and hamstring injuries. However, it now appears as though the Dodgers will be getting Kemp back, and in time for him to contribute during the playoff run.
Despite suffering a set back about 10 days ago, Kemp has now progressed enough that he has been activated from the disabled list and added to the Dodgers roster. While he still isn’t 100% the Dodgers are hoping that they can get some production out of Kemp’s bat down the stretch. According to a tweet from Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles, “(Dodgers Manager Don) Mattingly says (Kemp) looked tentative running bases pregame. If he plays it’d be as a pinch hitter only.”
The 28-year old Kemp has been limited to just 62 games and 228 At bats this season. He has hit .263/.319/.382 this season, five home runs and 27 RBIs this year. Kemp was an MVP candidate in the 2011 season when he hit, .324/.399/.586 with 39 home runs and 126 RBIs.
Kemp has six years and $128 million remaining on the eight-year, $160 million contract extension he signed following his big 2011 season.
Even at less than 100% there is a hope that Kemp can contribute down the stretch and that he may even be ready for a bigger role come the playoffs in Los Angeles.
How he fits into a lineup with Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, and Carl Crawford starting most of the season remains to be seen; but depth is always a nice problem for any team to have.
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