Dodgers News: Matt Kemp To Begin Rehab Assignment Tomorrow

The Dodgers got good news before the second game of their four game series with the San Diego Padres that outfielder Matt Kemp will begin a rehab assignment tomorrow at Triple-A Albuquerque.

Kemp has been sidelined since May 30 with a strained hamstring and even suffered a setback a couple weeks ago, but did running drills in front of the trainers and Don Mattingly this afternoon.

Hanley Ramirez, an unlikely source for media information, broke the news via Twitter about Kemp’s rehab assignment:

My boy @TheRealMattKemp going on rehab assignment 2morrow! It will b good 2 get him back. #Albuquerque

— Hanley Ramirez (@HanleyRamirez) June 21, 2013

Kemp is only hitting .251 with two home runs so far this season after he underwent off-season shoulder surgery. With the spark that Yasiel Puig has given the Dodgers, one can only imagine what will the offense look like with Kemp back playing regularly.

Last season, Kemp was slowed with a hamstring injury to the other leg, but his power has been noticeably missing due to his injured shoulder.

Hopefully with Kemp getting the mental break he needs and recovering from his hamstring injury, he can provide the power needed in the middle of the lineup.

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times provided the rehab plan for Kemp:

Mattingly: Kemp will DH for AAA tomorrow, hopefully 2-3 more in field, then return to #Dodgers.

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) June 22, 2013

When Kemp comes back it will be interesting to see how Mattingly handles the outfield, but look for him Puig and Ethier to be in there everyday until Carl Crawford gets back.