Dodgers' Outfielder Matt Kemp Hopes to Be Ready by Opening Day

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- If the Los Angeles Dodgers hope to make it back to the playoffs this season, they'll need a healthy Matt Kemp. Kemp is hoping to be ready to play by Opening Day.

Back in October, Kemp's left, non-throwing shoulder required surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff damage. Kemp's status for Opening Day had been up in the air, but Kemp declared that he'll be ready to go when the season begins.

"That's my goal," Kemp told Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. "I'm hitting off the tee, no soft toss yet. I have my good days and bad days. It's still a little sore. But being ready for the season is all that matters."

Kemp also declared himself "ahead of schedule" and think he'll be able to play in the team's first game of the season on April 1. He did also admit that he will most likely not be 100 percent for the start of the season whether he plays or not.

When healthy, the 28-year old Kemp is one of the best outfielders in baseball. In 106 games last season, Kemp hit .303 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

Matt Kemp to Undergo Shoulder Surgery

Mike McGinnis/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star centerfielder Matt Kemp announced that he will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The recovery time after the surgery could range anywhere from four weeks to four months, depending on what kind of damage the doctors find during the surgery.

"They'll cut it open and see what's going on inside of there," Kemp said. "Hopefully, they just clean it up. If they need to do more, they'll do more, but I won't know anything until I wake up."

The 28-year-old Kemp injured his shoulder smacking into the outfield wall against the Rockies back on Aug. 28.

He finished the 2012 season in an 0-for-10 slump, but batted .303 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs.

The Dodgers were eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to the San Francisco Giants on the second-to-last night of the regular season.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio.

Matt Kemp to Have MRI on Shoulder

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(SAN FRANCISCO) -- Matt Kemp could be hurt again. The Dodgers announced that Kemp will have an MRI Saturday on his left shoulder, and will be out until at least Tuesday.

Kemp, who has already been on the disabled list twice this season with a strained left hamstring, hurt his shoulder after colliding into the outfield wall in Colorado on August 28. Since then, Kemp says the shoulder hurts every time he swings and misses.

"I appreciate him wanting to play, wanting to be tough and go out there, but at some point you've got to be honest and say either I can help the team or I can't help the team," Dodgers skipper Don Mattingly said. "If it's hurting him to swing the bat and if he's not able to do some things, it doesn't do us any good for him to be out there."

Kemp is hitting .315, with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs for the season.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Matt Kemp Bruises Knee in Wall Collision

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(DENVER) --  Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp left Tuesday night's game against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning after crashing into the outfield wall at Coors Field.

He was diagnosed with a bruised knee after running full speed into the wall and falling backwards onto the warning track.  Kemp was attempting to track down a triple by Josh Rutledge.  After the collision, he stayed down on the ground for a few minutes as he was checked out by team trainers.

Kemp left Coors Field to undergo precautionary X-rays on his jaw and an MRI on his knee. He is day-to-day.

He has also missed time this season with a strained left hamstring.

The 27-year-old is hitting .337 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs in 78 games on the season.

The Dodgers went on to lose to the Rockies 8-4.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio.

Home Run Derby Participants Announced

Major League Baseball(NEW YORK) -- The Home Run Derby is one of the marquee events during Major League Baseball's All-Star weekend, and the participants of this year's contest have been announced.

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano is serving as the captain for the American League All-Stars. He has chosen Angels outfielder Mark Trumbo, Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder, and Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista.

Cano and Trumbo both currently rank seventh in the American League with 20 home runs. Bautista's 27 home runs lead all of Major League Baseball. Although, Fielder's 12 home runs ranks him tied for 25th in the American League, he has been one of baseball's better power hitters since entering the league.

Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp on the other hand, is serving as the captain for the National League squad. He has selected Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran, Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, and Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.

Kemp has hit 12 home runs this season, but hasn't played since June 30 because of a hamstring injury. He hopes to be able to compete in the event. Beltran is currently second in the National League with 20 home runs. Gonzalez currently has 17 home runs, while Stanton currently has 19 home runs.

The All-Star game is set for July 10 in Kansas City.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Dodgers' Outfielder Matt Kemp to Begin Rehab Assignment Tonight

Christian Peterson/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have been struggling to generate much offense over the past month, but help is on the horizon. Outfielder Matt Kemp is set to begin his rehab assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga tonight and could return to the team after the All-Star break.

Kemp will DH tonight and will play regularly with the club. If all goes well, he will participate in the NL Home Run Derby and return to the big league lineup on July 13. He has been out of action since May 30 when he re-aggravated his left hamstring against the Milwaukee Brewers.

"He's pretty much going to play the rest of the way through the break," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told ESPNLosAngeles.com on Monday. "There will be some designed days in there, kind of easy days. He's DH'ing tomorrow and then he's playing five innings the next day and then there's another DH day in there. There are days in there designed to keep him playing but to keep him from being on his leg every day."

Before getting hurt, Kemp was off to a torrid start to the season. In 36 games played this season, Kemp batted .355 with 12 home runs and 28 RBIs.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Brewers Complete Sweep of Dodgers

Rob Carr/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Zack Greinke shut down the Matt Kemp-less Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night in the Brewers 6-2 win.

Greinke (5-2) pitched six innings and struck out seven for the win and completed the four-game sweep of Los Angeles (32-19).

"We've been due for something like this for a while, so hopefully it continues," said Greinke.  "I feel like our offense is clicking and getting enough runs on the board so that we can get on a good roll if we keep pitching like we did in this series."

Last year's NL MVP Ryan Braun was scratched for Milwaukee (23-28) because of tightness in his right Achilles tendon.  As for the Dodgers who lost Matt Kemp for at least a month after he re-aggravated his hamstring on Wednesday, they'll look to continue their success without the slugger.

"Should be...a challenging time," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly before the game. "It's a...time that you find out what kind of club you are."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Kemp Re-Aggravates Hamstring in Dodgers Loss

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Didn't you just comeback? A day after Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp came off the 15-day disabled list, he re-aggravated his left hamstring and left Wednesday's game versus the Brewers in the first inning.

The injury occurred when he scored from first base on teammate Andre Ethier's double

"Ya, I think so," Kemp said after the game when asked if he would have to return to the disabled list. "It feels worst than the first time. We'll see tomorrow. Hopefully the MRI comes back good. We'll go from there."

Kemp originally injured the hamstring May 13 against the Rockies.

He is hitting .355, with 12 home runs and 28 RBIs for the season.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Matt Kemp Leaves Game With Hamstring Issue

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)(LOS ANGELES) -- Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp left the Dodgers game versus the Colorado Rockies Sunday after irritating his left hamstring.

He will have an MRI on Monday.

Kemp was asked if it would be a good idea to go on the 15-day disabled list to make sure the injury heals properly.

"I'm definitely not going on the DL,'' he said. "That isn't going to happen. The team needs me. I don't think this is a 15-day thing. I think it's a one-, two- or three-day thing. I won't need to go on the DL for it.''

Kemp is hitting .359 with 12 home runs, 28 RBIs and a .446 OBP.

Copyright 2012 ABC Sports Radio

Dodgers Beat Padres, 5-4, Turn Triple Play

Scott Boehm/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are red-hot to start the 2012 season.  Dee Brown made sure of it with his walk-off single that gave the Dodgers a 5-4 win in the bottom of the ninth inning and major league best 9-1 start to the season.

Matt Kemp homered for the fourth time in three games and his team turned a triple play in the top of the ninth inning.

Jesus Guzman squared to bunt in the top of the ninth for the Padres (2-8), but the pitch came high and tight and hit his bat to get the elusive triple play started.  Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis picked up the batted ball and threw it to third after Jesus Guzman still failed to run to first base.  By the time he got there, the triple play was completed.

Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully returned to the booth after missing the last five games due to a cold on Jackie Robinson Day.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio