One thing that no one in baseball could have predicted at the beginning of this past offseason was that Matt Kemp would be starting in left field and batting in the heart of the lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day.
But with less than a week until the Dodgers begin the 2018 season with a matchup against the San Francisco Giants, it is looking more and more like that will be the case. When the Dodgers acquired Kemp from the Atlanta Braves, the hope was that they would be able to trade him elsewhere before the start of the season.
They were unable to do so and after a strong spring, Kemp is going into the season with what appears to be an inside track to be the team’s starter in left field.
Now that he knows where he will be come Opening Day, Kemp discussed the excitement that comes with returning to the city that he called home for the first nine years of his Major League career, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Ever since I’ve been here, just vibing with these guys, they made it easy for me to transition back into this locker room and get in the flow of things. I think, yeah – it feels real. I’m happy it’s real and I’m excited we get to go to L.A. Saturday.”
Due to the injury to No. 3 hitter Justin Turner, the Dodgers lineup may look a bit different than previously expected. Cody Bellinger may be moving up to the third spot with Kemp behind him batting cleanup.
Or Dodgers manager Dave Roberts can opt to bat Kemp third and Bellinger fourth to split up the two lefties at the top of the lineup in Corey Seager and Bellinger.
However it plays out, Dodger fans will be excited to hear No. 27’s name called when the lineups are announced on Opening Day as Kemp returns to Dodger Stadium as a member of the Dodgers for the first time since 2014.
