Dodgers News: Don Mattingly Says Matt Kemp Swing Progressing

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp is currently on a rehab assignment with Class A Rancho and while things haven’t gone the greatest statistically, manager Don Mattingly doesn’t seem too concerned.

Kemp has played in five games with Rancho and is 0-18 with seven strikeouts and one walk, but there doesn’t seem to be any issues with his severely sprained ankle.

However, talking to Ken Gurnick of Dodgers.com, Mattingly and hitting coach Mark McGwire don’t seem too concerned with his swing:

[Hitting coach Mark McGwire] and I watched tape and he doesn’t look that far off. I know he’s not getting hits and he’s striking out, but it looks like it’s just repetition and at-bats. Just a little time. His health and the way he looks is fine, other than not getting the results.

Before he went down with the injury in mid-July, Kemp was hitting .263 with just five home runs and 27 RBIs as his cold streak in the minors is somewhat concerning.

With Yasiel Puig hurting himself in the fifth inning of yesterday’s game, the urgency for Kemp to get back to the big league level could be there, but Mattingly isn’t too concerned with his injury.

There seem to be conflicting reports however about what Kemp will do next as he’ll either be with the Quakes during the playoffs, or join the Dodgers in Denver.

Regardless, with a 12.5 game lead in the division, the Dodgers have the luxury of letting Kemp regain his timing at the big league level before the playoffs begin.

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In case you missed it, be sure to find out more about Yasiel Puig’s benching.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0j7vPiTokI