The Los Angeles Dodgers were back on the field Friday for their first game since suffering a heartbreak defeat at the hands of the Houston Astros in the World Series. But for Matt Kemp, it was something more.
Kemp started in left field and hit fifth in the lineup for his first game with the Dodgers since the 2014 National League Division Series. Kemp singled in his first at-bat, then hit a three-run home run in his second.
The success at the plate earned him plenty of applause from the drove of Dodgers fans who were on hand at Camelback Ranch for the team’s Cactus League opener.
The reception was one Kemp thoroughly enjoyed, even recalling how he was treated while a member of the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“Oh, heck yeah. The fans standing up? That was pretty cool, for sure,” Kemp said of being cheered by Dodgers fans again.
“It was exciting to me. Here, the fans like to come to spring training so the games are always exciting. I got a pretty warm welcome. It’s better than the Dodgers fans booing me when I was on the other side. It was exciting.”
While Kemp hit one of the Dodgers’ four home runs in what resulted in a rout of the White Sox, his value to the team and playing time will be determined by defense. Kemp fielded a fly ball, the only hit to him in the game, without issue.
Should he remain with the Dodgers, Kemp could provide the team with a potent right-handed bat that they’ve been in search of over recent seasons.
