After acquiring Matt Kemp in a trade with the Atlanta Braves that served as a salary dump for both teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers were widely expected to flip him. Of course, moving an outfielder of Kemp’s age and with his type of contract didn’t figure to be easy.
As such, there never appeared to be any serious trade interest, and Kemp reported to Spring Training with the Dodgers. He did so as a different player than the club last saw. Not only did Kemp shed an estimated 40 pounds, he had a renewed attitude.
Kemp was given an opportunity to play for a significant role, which he earned and went into the regular season as the Dodgers’ primary starter in left field. However, Kemp’s injury history appears to have caught up to him.
While it was not more hamstring trouble, he was removed in the bottom of the fourth inning on Friday night due to quad tightness, according to Alanna Rizzo of SportsNet LA:
Kemp removed with left quad tightness.
— Alanna Rizzo (@alannarizzo) April 28, 2018
Kemp appeared to suffer the injury when he scored from first base on Yasmani Grandal’s double in the top half of the inning. He appeared visibly frustrated in the dugout and was checked on by a trainer. Joc Pederson replaced Kemp in the field.
Entering Friday night, Kemp was batting .313/.348/.563 with four doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI. Including the series opener against the San Francisco Giants, he’s appeared in 22 of the team’s 24 games this season.
