Matt Kemp | |
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![]() Kemp with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 | |
Outfielder | |
Born: Midwest City, Oklahoma, U.S. | September 23, 1984|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 28, 2006, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 25, 2020, for the Colorado Rockies | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .284 |
Home runs | 287 |
Runs batted in | 1,031 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Matthew Ryan Kemp (born September 23, 1984) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He began his professional career in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2003, and played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Dodgers from 2006 until 2014, the San Diego Padres in 2015 and 2016 and the Atlanta Braves in 2016 and 2017 before returning to the Dodgers for the 2018 season, and briefly playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 2019 and Colorado Rockies in 2020. He was named to three All-Star teams and won two Gold Glove Awards (2009 and 2011) and two Silver Slugger Awards (2009 and 2011).
The Dodgers selected Kemp in the sixth round of the 2003 MLB draft. After four seasons in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut in 2006. He did not become a full-time player until 2008, when he took over as the starting center fielder for the Dodgers. In 2011, Kemp led the National League in runs scored (115), total bases (353), OPS+ (171), WAR (7.8), home runs (39), and runs batted in (126). Additionally, he became the first player to finish in the top two in both home runs and steals since Hank Aaron in 1963.[1]