Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers 2024 season kicked off this past Thursday with the start of Cactus League play. However, the Dodgers continue to make headlines this time in the front office.
According to CBS Sports Bob Nightengale, Matt Kemp, the former Dodgers all-star center fielder, has rejoined the team in an advisory role.
Kemp played for the Dodgers for ten seasons, most recently in 2018, when the then 33-year-old revitalized his career in Dodgers Blue, making it to his first World Series for the team he spent nine seasons prior, from 2006-2014.
Kemp, now 39, has joined the Dodgers behind the scenes in an unfinalized role.
2000’s Dodgers back in full swing
Matt Kemp is not the only former Dodgers from the 2000s to join the team in a coaching or advisory role as a fan favorite, and former teammate Andre Ethier has also been at camp in Arizona as an outfield coach.
Ethier, who played for the Dodgers over twelve seasons stretching from 2006-2017, has been at camp working with the outfield group, specifically Miguel Vargas, who is transitioning from infield to left field.
Kemp and Ethier were the two stars who helped carry the Dodgers to back-to-back NLCS trips in 2008 and 2009.
For both players, injuries and age affected their careers greatly, but each got to play in a World Series of their own in their final years in LA.
Kemp, as mentioned, was a part of the 2018 Dodgers squad, which overcame the Diamondbacks and Rockies to win yet another NL West title. However, Ethier also got his shot the season prior, even hitting an NLCS HR against the Cubs.
Kemp and Ethier are two of several recently retired players the Dodgers have brought into the organization over the last 12 months, including longtime slugger Nelson Cruz and former All-Star right-handers Chris Archer and Tyson Ross.
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