Matt Kemp
FameRank: 6

"Matthew Ryan "Matt" Kemp" is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has been named to two All-Star teams and has won two Gold Glove Awards (2009 and 2011) and two Silver Slugger Awards (2009 and 2011). He began his professional career in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2003, and played with the Dodgers from 2006 until 2014.

Kemp was drafted by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft/2003 MLB Draft. After four seasons in the Minor League Baseball/minor leagues, he made his major league debut in 2006. He did not become a full-time player until 2008, when he took over as the starting center fielder for the Dodgers. In 2011, Kemp led the National League in runs scored (115), total bases (353), OPS+ (171), Wins above replacement/WAR (7.8), home runs (39), and runs batted in (126). Additionally, he became the first player to finish in the top two in both home runs and steals since Hank Aaron in 1963 Milwaukee Braves season/1963. He was traded to the Padres after the 2014 season.

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I love it in center. That's where I played most last year after trying it in Spring Training for the first time. I just fell in love with it. I can play all three, but I like being the leader in the outfielder.

I'm not saying I was trying to get out from his shadow, because we're good friends and we've played on every team together, but everybody thinks I played better after he was gone. I think the team just jelled. And people forget, I hurt my wrist sliding early in Spring Training and I was out four weeks and around the time I got healthy, he got promoted.