Matt Kemp

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**Matt Kemp**
Born: September 23 1984 (1984-09-23) (age 23)
Los Angeles Dodgers — No. 27
Outfielder
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
May 28, 2006 for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Selected MLB statistics (through 2007)
Batting Average	.312
Home Runs	17
Runs Batted In	65
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (2006-present)

Matthew Ryan Kemp (born September 23, 1984, in Midwest City, Oklahoma)^[1] is a Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[2]

1 High School Years
2 Professional career
3 Minor League
4 2006 Season
5 2007 Season
6 Nickname
7 Controversy
8 Teams
9 References
10 External links

High School Years

Kemp attended Midwest City High School in Midwest City, Oklahoma and was a standout in basketball and baseball.^[2]

Professional career

Matt Kemp, Juan Pierre and Andre Ethier, the Dodger outfield

Kemp was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 6th round of the 2003 draft and signed with the team on June 5 2003.

Minor League

He started his professional career for the Gulf Coast Dodgers in 2003 and followed that up with stints with the Columbus Catfish in 2004 and the Vero Beach Dodgers in 2004-2005. He was selected to the Florida State League All-Star team in 2005, and set Vero Beach franchise records for home runs (27) and slugging percentage (.569). He was rated the best athlete in the Dodgers farm system by Baseball America.

2006 Season

He began 2006 with the "AA" Jacksonville Suns, where he hit .327 with 7 homers, 34 RBIs and 11 steals, prompting a promotion to the major league squad. His promotion was spurred by an effort to provide regular rest for center fielder Kenny Lofton and oft injured right field All-Star J.D. Drew. Kemp made his Major League Baseball debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 28, 2006, against the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C.. He got one hit in 4 at bats in his debut, with his first hit coming in the 8th inning off of Jon Rauch. He slugged his first Major League homer on June 1 in his second Dodger Stadium at-bat off Philadelphia's Gavin Floyd. He homered in three straight games from June 1-3 against the Phillies and homered twice on June 11 off Colorado Rockies starter Aaron Cook. He became the 1st Dodger and 5th Major Leaguer to hit four homers in his first 10 days with the team.^[2] He was reassigned to AAA Las Vegas in mid-july, but was recalled to the Dodgers when rosters expanded on September 1. He is considered one of the top prospects in baseball, and the best outfield prospect in the Dodger's organization.

2007 Season

Kemp started the 2007 season on the Major League Roster but lost his place when he suffered an injury while running into the outfield fence at Dodger Stadium. Upon his return from the injury, he was optioned back to Las Vegas and did not return to the Dodgers until Mid-June. Once Kemp was recalled, he showed why many consider him a star in the making. Kemp enjoyed an outstanding sophomore campaign. Kemp batted .342 hit 10 home runs, and drove in 42 runs while splitting time with Andre Ethier. Going into the 2008 season, Kemp is expected to be the starting Right Fielder.

Nickname

Kemp's nickname is "The Bison."^[3] During the second major league game of Kemp's career, on May 29, 2006, Kemp stole second base in the fourth inning, after which an Atlanta Braves television announcer Don Sutton said he looked "like a big buffalo running around the bases." The observation was appropriate due to Kemp's imposing size and surprisingly fast footspeed. The nickname was modified to "The Bison," the more proper term for the North American mammal to which the moniker refers.

Controversy

Kemp, along with teammate James Loney had a battle of words with Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent. Kent accused young Dodger players with "not caring" about the teams outcome of the game. Meanwhile, Kemp and Loney accused Kent of not being a team leader. Since the incident, there has been speculation the Kemp will be dealt in the offseason.