Los Angeles Dodgers Alumni Weekend at Dodger Stadium concluded Sunday with Matt Kemp Day, which saw the former All-Star outfielder sign a one-day contract to officially retire as a member of the organization.
The pregame ceremony was emceed by Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis and included a speech from Clayton Kershaw. Mookie Betts and Kershaw brought a Dodgers jersey and one-day contract onto the field for Kemp.
“The Dodgers were the ones who gave me the opportunity to put a big-league jersey on and live out my dream,” Kemp said in a statement. “So to be able to put that jersey back on and to be able to be around all the fellas, it’s kind of nostalgic, and it’s very exciting to be back in L.A.”
The Dodgers originally selected Kemp in the sixth round of the 2003 MLB Draft and he would go on to spend the first nine seasons of his big league career with the team.
Kemp’s first stint with the Dodgers came to an end when he was traded to the San Diego Padres after the 2014 season. He spent parts of two seasons in San Diego and another two with the Atlanta Braves before finding his way back to the Dodgers via trade.
Kemp enjoyed a resurgence in L.A. during the 2018 season and was a driving force behind the club advancing to a second consecutive World Series.
Kemp played the final two seasons of his career with the Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies, respectively. He announced his retirement this past May and returned to the Dodgers in an advisory role.
In parts of 10 seasons with Dodgers, Kemp hit .292/.348/.494 with 240 doubles, 203 home runs and 733 RBI, earning three All-Star Game selections, two Gold Glove Awards and two Silver Sluggers.
Dave Roberts proud of Matt Kemp
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noted earlier this season that he was happy Kemp returned to the organization in a new capacity.
Among Kemp’s responsibilities as an adviser was reporting to Dodgers Spring Training in March to provide in-person instruction.
On Sunday, Roberts reflected on overlapping with Kemp’s time playing for the San Diego Padres and his Dodgers return in 2018.
“He was pretty much out of the game, so for him to come back to the Dodgers, where it initially started, I think Matt had gratitude,” Roberts said. “He was humbled, and he turned that into an All-Star season. With the Padres, he just got off to a rough start and couldn’t get untracked. But it was good to see the way he finished as an All-Star.”
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