#TBT- Matt Kemp, OF, Atlanta Braves
@Hoover__26 August 4, 2016
Matt Kemp is a really interesting player. For his entire 11 year career, there was never a time when he wasn’t in the upper echelons of outfielders in the MLB. However, he only really had one or two incredible seasons (2011 and 2012, his only two All-Star seasons). He was second in MVP voting in 2011, won a Gold Glove, and a Silver Slugger. He was an All Star again the next year, but was only able to play 106 games in 2012 (with a pace of 35 home runs, four short of his previous number). Now, you might expect him to come short of repeating an amazing season like he had in 2011, but I know I certainly wouldn’t expect him to suddenly leap back into MVP level form at 31 years old.
Last year, Kemp hit 23 home runs in 154 games (a respectable number for a 30 year old in his first year with San Diego). This year, Kemp has hit 23 home runs in 102 games (putting him on a pace of 35 home runs if he plays 154 games again). His slugging percentage has jumped over 40 points, and he had hit safely in his last eleven games before his last matchup against Toronto (he did, however, reach base). Excluding a slump he had in May and his first few games with Atlanta (his hometown team, so I’m sure he will pick it up as soon as he gets his bearings), his batting average would be .287 on the season. Kemp has made the jump from good veteran outfielder to elite level player seemingly overnight, much to the delight of his fantasy owners.
Kemp is in the top 55 in fantasy points scored for batters this season (espn.com), surprising quite a few doubting drafters. Kemp is in the top 20 in fantasy points scored for outfielders, despite being the 26th OF drafted in espn.com drafts. He averaged 6.5 fantasy points per game over his last eight games with the Padres (again, these last few games have been a change of scenery and are hard to really count), and 4.2 on the year (as general rule of thumb I use when playing in a DK scoring league, anything consistently over 4 is a great number).
Kemp is also a very solid fielder, and has been nothing short of one this season. His .989 fielding percentage is his highest since his shortened 2012 Dodgers campaign, and he is currently fifth in the NL in assists as right fielder, and fifth on the active list in double plays turned as an outfielder (baseball-reference.com).
This week’s #TBT is having a magical throwback year. He has thrust himself back into the conversation of the best outfielders in the business, after falling down from his unbelievable mid-career production. Hopefully Matt Kemp can continue to defy those who call him average, and keep rising back to the level of MVP candidate like he once was (realistically, if he could bump his batting average up a little, he could finish with a very similar year to his thrilling 2011). As of yet, there is nothing that tells me he can’t. He has told his hometown fans they will be seeing “the Matt Kemp of old”, and I think he might just be telling the truth.
Last year, Kemp hit 23 home runs in 154 games (a respectable number for a 30 year old in his first year with San Diego). This year, Kemp has hit 23 home runs in 102 games (putting him on a pace of 35 home runs if he plays 154 games again). His slugging percentage has jumped over 40 points, and he had hit safely in his last eleven games before his last matchup against Toronto (he did, however, reach base). Excluding a slump he had in May and his first few games with Atlanta (his hometown team, so I’m sure he will pick it up as soon as he gets his bearings), his batting average would be .287 on the season. Kemp has made the jump from good veteran outfielder to elite level player seemingly overnight, much to the delight of his fantasy owners.
Kemp is in the top 55 in fantasy points scored for batters this season (espn.com), surprising quite a few doubting drafters. Kemp is in the top 20 in fantasy points scored for outfielders, despite being the 26th OF drafted in espn.com drafts. He averaged 6.5 fantasy points per game over his last eight games with the Padres (again, these last few games have been a change of scenery and are hard to really count), and 4.2 on the year (as general rule of thumb I use when playing in a DK scoring league, anything consistently over 4 is a great number).
Kemp is also a very solid fielder, and has been nothing short of one this season. His .989 fielding percentage is his highest since his shortened 2012 Dodgers campaign, and he is currently fifth in the NL in assists as right fielder, and fifth on the active list in double plays turned as an outfielder (baseball-reference.com).
This week’s #TBT is having a magical throwback year. He has thrust himself back into the conversation of the best outfielders in the business, after falling down from his unbelievable mid-career production. Hopefully Matt Kemp can continue to defy those who call him average, and keep rising back to the level of MVP candidate like he once was (realistically, if he could bump his batting average up a little, he could finish with a very similar year to his thrilling 2011). As of yet, there is nothing that tells me he can’t. He has told his hometown fans they will be seeing “the Matt Kemp of old”, and I think he might just be telling the truth.