Matt Kemp 2010 Fantasy Baseball Profile

Name: Matt Kemp

Position: Outfield

Team: Dodgers

Age: 25

Overview: Matthew Ryan "Matt" Kemp (born September 23, 1984 in Midwest City Oklahoma is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kemp was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 6th round of the 2003 draft and signed with the team on June 5, 2003. Kemp made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 28, 2006, against the Washington Nationals at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. He got one hit in 4 at bats in his debut, with his first hit coming in the 8th inning off of Jon Rauch. He hit his first Major League homer on June 1 in his second Dodger Stadium at-bat off the Philadelphia Phillies' Gavin Floyd. He homered in three straight games from June 1-3 against the Phillies and homered twice on June 11 off Colorado Rockies starter Aaron Cook. He became the 1st Dodger and 5th major leaguer to hit four homers in his first 10 days with the team.

Kemp had his first career walk-off hit on June 16 against the Oakland A's. On September 24, he became the first player in Dodger history to hit at least .295, with 25 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 30 steals in one season. Kemp hit his first career postseason home run on October 7 in his first at bat of the NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. After the season, he was selected as a recipient of both the Gold Glove Award and the Silver Slugger Award.

While most consider 2008 his breakout season with 38 doubles, 5 triples, and 18 homeruns, it was 2009 that Kemp really rounded out adding 8 more homer totals (26) and 25 more RBI (101). Kemp is a guy that will dominate your league in nearly every category, and will surely be passed over for guys like Albert Pujols and Hanley Ramirez—ya know, that’s what everyone else is doing. But if you’re not a crowd follower and grab Kemp with the first pick, there will be no regrets on your behalf.

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