The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Matt Kemp heads for third on a triple against the Cincinnati Reds during a preseason game Wednesday at Cashman Field. The Reds won 12-4.
Monday, April 2, 2012 | 2:03 a.m.
Matt Kemp
During the 2006 and 2007 seasons, the Las Vegas 51s had some of the best minor league prospects in all of baseball.
One of the leaders of that group was Matt Kemp, who dominated Pacific Coast League pitching for parts of two seasons on the way to establishing himself as one of the best outfielders in the game.
In 2006, Kemp was among Las Vegas team leaders with a .368 batting average, 36 RBIs, 37 runs, 14 doubles and six triples in 44 games. The following year, Kemp batted .329 in 39 games for the 51s, belting four home runs and recording 20 RBIs.
He continued to shine with the Dodgers, becoming the first in franchise history to hit four home runs in his initial 10 days with the big league team.
In 2011, Kemp led the National League in runs scored (115), total bases (353), home runs (39), and RBIs (115). He became the first player to finish in the top two in both home runs and steals since Hank Aaron in 1963.
Kemp finished second behind Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun in the voting for NL MVP in 2011.
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