Since being placed in the leadoff spot on June 24th for the first time since 2010, Padres right fielder Matt Kemp has been at the top of the order for five straight games. Although he went hitless in his first game at the top of the order, he’s had a hit in each of the past four games. That includes three multihit games and two home runs. Five games is a small sample size, but so far this may be new Padres manager Pat Murphy’s best move.
For his part, Kemp says he doesn’t feel any different leading off telling MLB.com:
“I've hit there before. You're leading off the game. After that, you're just a regular hitter in the lineup.”
Perhaps it’s just part of Kemp's overall improvement this month. He’s hitting nearly as well in June as he did in April, but with power. After ending the longest home run drought of his career on June 6, Kemp has five home runs in June after only hitting one through the first two months of the season. Though Murphy said Kemp would be losing out on RBI opportunities in the leadoff spot, the right-hander actually has five RBIs from the top of the order.
(h/t MLB.com)
Photo credit: Jake Roth/USA TODAY Sports
