Dodgers News: Kemp Says He’s “Close” After Latest Minor League Game

While the Los Angeles Dodgers were traveling to Australia all day yesterday, outfielder Matt Kemp took part in a minor league game. Kemp went 0-3 with a walk, but played four innings in the outfield as he continues to rehab from a surgically repaired left ankle.

The 29-year-old outfielder also started sliding in the outfield on a padded cushion as his rehab has ramped up in recent weeks. Taking part in another minor league game this afternoon, Kemp told Pedro Moura of the OC Register that he’s feeling good:

Matt Kemp played four innings in CF and went 0-for-3 with a walk. Done for the day. "I'm getting close," he told me.

— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) March 18, 2014

Matt Kemp after 0-for-3 day: "I don't care about the results. I care about how I feel, and I feel good."

— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) March 18, 2014

Like Kemp said, the results aren’t there in the hit category, but everytime he plays a game and reports no soreness, it’s a positive step forward for him and the Dodgers. When healthy, Kemp is arguably one of the top players in all of baseball, but he’s only played in 179 games.

With four capable outfielders, the Dodgers can play things safe with Kemp since they don’t need him to rush back from a career-threatening injury. Along with the ankle injury, he battled hamstring and shoulder injuries as he also underwent a minor procedure on his left shoulder in the off-season.

For now, the Dodgers will use Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier and Yasiel Puig in the outfield, but Kemp made it clear he doesn’t expect to be a fourth outfielder upon his return. How manager Don Mattingly decides to play his four outfielders remains to be seen, but that would require them all being healthy at the same time.

There seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel for Kemp and with each day that passes, the end of his rehab becomes that much closer.

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ICYMI: Don Mattingly talks about the Dodgers trip to Australia