Matt Kemp, a former Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder and fan favorite, expressed relief after being traded to the Atlanta Braves in July 2016 after a brief and unimpressive stay with the Padres that lasted portions of two seasons.
Kemp recently stated on Instagram that he is retiring from baseball, despite the fact that he hasn’t played in the majors in four years. He recently reflected on his playing career on The Pivot, revealing how “terrible” his tenure with the Padres was.
“When I got traded to Atlanta from San Diego, man I was like super happy because I wanted to get out of San Diego because it was weird,” Kemp recalled. “It was just weird vibes.” I was used to being held accountable in L.A., particularly by the media. I had a miserable first month and a half in San Diego. I’m at my locker, and no one is bothering me or asking me questions. I was thinking, “I need to go somewhere that matters.”
During Kemp’s tenure with the Padres, the team did not win 80 games. His ambition to play for a relevant team with postseason aspirations made him crave a change of scenery. He accepted the move to Atlanta, where he stayed for a year before returning to Los Angeles.
His final season with the Dodgers was a solid one. He hit.290 and played in his third and final All-Star Game.
Since Kemp left San Diego, the Padres’ culture and performance have changed dramatically. Every year, they anticipate to make the playoffs, and their attendance has increased dramatically.
The Padres followed up their 2022 National League Championship Series run with a poor 82-win season last year. Through Sunday, they were second in the NL West and held on to the second wild-card slot despite a 34-35 record.
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