The Braves have announced that outfielder Matt Kemp is headed to the 10-day DL. He’ll be replaced on the active roster by infielder Johan Camargo, as David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution first tweeted.
Kemp, who last played on Friday, has been bothered by a hamstring injury. Evidently, it hasn’t improved enough to believe he’ll be ready to return within the next few days. Still, the placement is backdated to April 8th, and with the new ten-day minimum it could be a short absence.
The veteran outfielder was off to a strong start, with eight hits (two of them home runs) in his 17 trips to the plate. The 32-year-old is looking to follow up on his strong numbers upon arriving in Atlanta last summer. Over his 241 plate appearances with the Braves, he slashed .280/.336/.519 with a dozen home runs while dramatically improving his plate discipline numbers (20 walks, 56 strikeouts) after a power-only first half with the Padres.
It’s a somewhat aggressive promotion for Camargo, meanwhile, who only just reached Triple-A. But he’ll likely function as a little-used bench option as he gets his first taste of the majors. Camargo hit just .267/.304/.379 over 491 plate appearances at Double-A last year, but did hit well in MLB camp this spring. The versatile infielder — he’s a switch-hitter who has seen action at short, second, and third in the minors — seems like a long-term possibility for a reserve role, as Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs wrote in his recent look at the Braves’ farm.
And the legs are still shot. Just put him out to pasture or trade him to the AL where he no longer has to play the field. The longer he’s in the NL the sooner his career will end.
Let the Pagan rumors start up again
Too bad they didn’t pounce on Bourn when he was available….
That worked out so well for the Braves last year…
This will really help the Braves’ pitchers, even if only for a short while.
Well unless Matt Kemp’s replacement can teach them how to throw strikes it doesn’t matter.
All this “depth” and still cannot put a good team on the field.
Well “depth” is a lot easier to acquire than “talent”, so I’m not entirely sure what your point is.
Pretty much what you said. All this rebuilding and yet can’t get adequate replacements for this year. Horrible bullpen, horrible bench, horrible depth in the minors.
Obviously it’s still early, but there is a reason they were projected to be a pretty terrible team.
They are at least a couple years away from being a real contender.
I don’t think you will find a whole lot of support for the “horrible depth in the minors” argument, Their whole system is depth, if anything they are lacking the top prospect types
with the way they are trying to rebuild this will not attract top tier free agents. Players aren’t ok with losing as often as this team is built to.
No chance he hurt it fielding – that would require him to actually move.
Seriously though, this is probably a fore-bearer for things to come. Once the legs go, they’re gone.
Oh stop. I swear, as a Braves fan, some Braves fans are some of the biggest whiners in sports. Braves are not to compete this year. If they do, fine. If they don’t, ok, wasn’t in the plan anyways.
Open the season in STP, get the pitching developed and make splashes in 2018.
Kemp is not a bad fielder, in 2017. He’s slimmed down. He’s range factor is 2.73. He played 4 games, 10 PO in 10 chances. Obviously a small sample, but he’s suddenly not going to be out there w/ bricks in his hands.
Last year he made 1 error with Atlanta.
Sure, he’s not Inciarte – but he’s doing great for Atlanta when you factor his batting abilities and protection for FF.
Geez guys he pulled a hamstring playing in the cold, it happens doesn’t mean his legs are shot. Plus we should be 3-3 right now, not 1-5 but when you’re giving the other team 3 UNEARNED runs over the last two games you’re not going to win those generally. The BP isn’t doing anyone any favors, but that should start to take care of itself soon as the FO is already showing signs of little patience for ineptitude. Our lineup could use a temp shakeup at the top two spots until Ender and Dansby get going. Again we’re only talking 6 games,6! How about we wait for the doomsday predictions until the end of April and we get a better sense of what’s what.
No, hurting his hamstring doesn’t mean his legs are shot. His legs having been shot for the last few years does, however, mean his legs are shot.
What happened ?
This would have been a great opportunity to call up Dustin Peterson. That would allow him a shot at getting some major league experience, and to get him a few big league at-bats, without really influencing his service clock. Of course though, with D-Pete being injured, that point is moot, and just is currently not even an option.
I honestly thought moving Kemp to the DL, meant that Mel Rojas Jr. would get the opportunity, but obviously that wasn’t the case. I know moving Rojas to the 40 man roster, would’ve meant having to open up a roster spot for him, but he has truly earned it.
Mel Rojas Jr. has been a steady, solid producer for the AAA squad ever since he was acquired, and by all accounts he is a fairly good defensive outfielder. With the bat, he has proven he is capable of at least putting up a line of .270/.350/.500, while showing he is capable of projecting out to at least 15-20 HR’s and 15-20 SB’s. Obviously, yes that was at the AAA level, but heck it is certainly better than the majority of their other options currently on their putrid bench!!
It just simply makes too much sense for them to bring up Rojas Jr., so of course instead they bring up the utility infielder and Jace Peterson/Chase d’Arnaud clone. Again, I know, it had to have come down to Rojas Jr. not being on the 40 man roster, but still though, they cannot continue carrying basically THREE outfielders, and 2 super utility guys trying to pass as options for the outfield. Although, to his credit, Jace Peterson has put in a ton of work, and he has improved his defense in the outfield substantially!! Boni is just a lost cause, and a complete waste of a roster spot, especially when there are guys like Angel Pagan out there waiting to be picked up.
Congrats to Camargo though, for making it to the show!! I honestly hope he performs well, and he is able to permanently take the roster spot of either Bonifacio or the aforementioned d’Arnaud.
As for Kemp, hopefully he comes back healthy soon. With him healthy, driven, and plus now in much better shape, the Braves line-up looks much better with him in it. He got off to such an awesome start to the season hitting, and even making a few sliding and diving catches…He is refocused and rede dictated to proving his doubters wrong..Hopefully he gets a chance to stay healthy, and continue his bounce back year!! Lord knows the Braves certainly need all the help they can get!!
I thought it was Adonis Garcia hurt?