Matt Kemp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matt Kemp |
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Kemp with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 23, 1984 Midwest City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 28, 2006, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 25, 2020, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .284 | ||
| Home runs | 287 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,031 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Matthew Ryan Kemp (born September 23, 1984) is a former American professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These included the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, and Colorado Rockies.
Kemp was a very talented player. He was chosen for three All-Star teams. He also won two Gold Glove Awards for his great fielding. Plus, he won two Silver Slugger Awards for his powerful hitting.
The Dodgers picked Kemp in the 2003 MLB draft. He played in the minor leagues for four seasons. Then, he made his major league debut in 2006. By 2008, he became a full-time player. In 2011, Kemp had an amazing season. He led the National League in several important stats. These included home runs (39) and runs batted in (126). He was also the first player since Hank Aaron in 1963 to finish in the top two for both home runs and stolen bases.
Contents
- Early Life and High School Sports
- Professional Baseball Career
- After Playing Baseball
- Nickname: "The Bison"
- Community Involvement
- See also
Early Life and High School Sports
Matt Kemp was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma. He was raised by his mother and grandmother.
Kemp went to Midwest City High School. He was excellent at both basketball and baseball. He helped his basketball team win the state championship twice. At one point, his team was ranked third in the whole country! Kemp was also an All-City player. He even received a scholarship offer to play college basketball for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
The Los Angeles Dodgers chose Matt Kemp in the sixth round of the 2003 MLB draft. He signed with the team in June 2003.
Kemp started his professional journey with the Gulf Coast Dodgers in 2003. He then played for the Columbus Catfish and Vero Beach Dodgers. During these years, Kemp became a stronger hitter. He hit 18 home runs in 2004 and 27 home runs in 2005. He was even chosen for the Florida State League All-Star team in 2005.
Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2014)
First Years: 2006–2008
Kemp started 2006 with the AA Jacksonville Suns. He played so well that he was called up to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut on May 28, 2006. In his second game at Dodger Stadium, he hit his first Major League home run. He even hit home runs in three straight games!
After a strong start, Kemp had some struggles. He was sent back to the minor leagues for a short time. He finished his rookie year with seven home runs and six stolen bases.
In 2007, Kemp started on the major league team. He had a shoulder injury but came back strong. He batted .342 with 10 home runs.
In 2008, Kemp became the Dodgers' main right fielder. He hit his first career grand slam in April. He was named "National League Player of the Week" for his great play. Later, he moved to center fielder. He finished the season with a .290 batting average, 18 home runs, and 76 RBIs. He also stole 35 bases.
Becoming an All-Star: 2009–2011
In 2009, Kemp had a fantastic season. He became the first Dodger to hit at least .295, with 25 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in one year. He finished with 26 home runs, 101 RBIs, and 34 steals. After the season, he won both a Gold Glove Award and a Silver Slugger Award.
Kemp started 2010 well, hitting seven home runs in April. He hit his first career walk-off home run in June. This is a home run that wins the game in the last inning. He played in all 162 games that season. He also hit home runs in five straight games to end the season. This was a rare achievement!
The 2011 season was one of Kemp's best. He worked hard on his base running and stole 40 bases. He hit his second walk-off home run of the season in April. Because of his great performance, fans voted him to start in the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He also took part in the Home Run Derby.
Kemp hit his 30th home run and stole his 30th base in August. This made him only the second Dodger ever to join the 30–30 club. He later became the first Dodger in history to hit at least 30 home runs and steal at least 40 bases. He led the league with 39 home runs and 126 RBIs. He also won the Hank Aaron Award for best hitter in the National League. He won another Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award.
Injuries and Comebacks: 2012–2014
Kemp started 2012 strong, winning the National League Player of the Week award twice in a row. He tied a club record for home runs in April. However, he then faced several injuries. He was placed on the disabled list for a hamstring injury. Despite missing time, fans still voted him to start in the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He also participated in the Home Run Derby. Kemp finished the season batting .303 with 23 home runs in 106 games.
In 2013, Kemp continued to struggle with injuries, including his shoulder and ankle. He played in only 73 games. He hit .270 with 6 home runs.
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Kemp started the 2014 season on the disabled list. He struggled with his defense early on. He moved from center field to left field, and then to right field. He became more comfortable in right field. In July, he hit five home runs in six games and won Player of the Week. He also won Player of the Month for September. For the season, Kemp hit .287 with 25 home runs and 89 RBIs.
Playing for the San Diego Padres (2015–2016)
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In December 2014, Kemp was traded to the San Diego Padres. He played his first game with the Padres against his old team, the Dodgers.
On August 14, 2015, Kemp made history for the Padres. He became the first player in the team's history to hit for the cycle. This means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run all in the same game!
Playing for the Atlanta Braves (2016–2017)
In July 2016, the Padres traded Kemp to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves moved him to left field. In September, Kemp got his 1,500th career hit.
In 2017, Kemp had a game where he hit three home runs. This was a big achievement! For the season, he hit 19 home runs.
Second Time with the Dodgers (2018)
In December 2017, Kemp was traded back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played very well in 2018. He batted .316 with 15 home runs. Fans voted him to start in the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game again. He finished the year hitting .290 with 21 home runs.
Kemp hit a home run in his first ever World Series at-bat. The Dodgers played in the 2018 World Series but lost to the Boston Red Sox.
Later Career (2019–2020)
In December 2018, the Dodgers traded Kemp to the Cincinnati Reds. He played briefly for the Reds in 2019.
In 2020, Kemp signed with the Colorado Rockies. He played 43 games for them, hitting six home runs. He became a free agent after the 2020 season.
In May 2021, Kemp was chosen to play for the United States national baseball team. This team competed to qualify for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
After Playing Baseball
On February 26, 2024, Matt Kemp was hired by the Dodgers. He now works in an advisory role, helping the team. In August 2024, Kemp officially announced that he was retiring from playing baseball.
Nickname: "The Bison"
Matt Kemp's nickname is "The Bison." This nickname started during his second major league game in 2006. An announcer said he looked "like a big buffalo running around the bases" when he stole second base. This was because of Kemp's large size (6' 4" tall and 225 pounds) and his surprising speed.
The word "buffalo" was changed to "bison" by a fan online. "Bison" is a more accurate name for the animal. The nickname also connects to Kemp's home state of Oklahoma. The bison is the official state animal of Oklahoma!
Community Involvement
Matt Kemp cares about helping children. He created a program called "Kemp's Kids." This program invited children from the Los Angeles area to attend several games at Dodger Stadium. These children often came from groups like the Challenger Boys & Girls Club.
See also
In Spanish: Matt Kemp para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
