First look at Matt Kemp back in Dodgers uniform

Los Angeles Dodgers fan favorite Matt Kemp has just shared the first photo of him back in the Dodgers uniform following an almost four-year hiatus from the team.

Start dusting off your Los Angeles Dodgers Matt Kemp gear, the prodigal son has officially returned. The veteran Dodger just posted a photo of him, in full uniform, toting his old no. 27 jersey during the team’s official portrait session.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfg_TXileaV/?hl=en&taken-by=therealmattkemp

Kemp was a huge fan favorite before being traded by the team to the San Diego Padres in 2014. Many die-hard Dodgers fans were outraged by the trade, despite his decline in performance. Now, nearly four years later he has been traded back.

And he’s got his old number back too!

Kemp was traded along with Tim Federowicz and $32 million in cash for Joe Wieland, Yasmani Grandal, and Zach Eflin. There was some controversy over the trade after it was revealed that Kemp had severe arthritis in both hips and the Padres tried to back out of the deal. In the end, the deal went through. As a Padre Kemp became the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle, but his stint in San Diego was brief as he was traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2016.

His last season with the team, he batted .276/.318/.463, and lead the NL in double plays grounded into (with 25), and hit 19 home runs. For the first time in his career, he did not steal any bases.

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In December, shortly after the Dodgers played in the World Series, the team announced it had traded Adrian Gonzalez, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, Charlie Culberson and cash considerations for Kemp. This was likely due to the Dodgers still paying Kemp for his contract.

The Dodgers opening day is Thursday, March 29 against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.