Current National League top All-Star vote getter Matt Kemp was named as the captain of the National League’s Home Run Derby squad today by Major League Baseball. The 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 9th at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City at 5 p.m. PT and will be televised nationally on ESPN.

Kemp, who led the National League with 39 home runs in 2011 and who participated in his first-ever Home Run Derby last July, is scheduled to participate in the 2012 Home Run Derby, in spite of currently being on the disabled list. Kemp’s return to the line-up is expected to be somewhere around the first of July, which puts his All-Star Game appearance in jeopardy; but knowing Matt Kemp, he’ll be there.

Even though Kemp didn't do well the 2011 Home Run Derby, his 39 home runs led the National League.

As it stands right now, Kemp is leading the National League All-Star voting at just under two million votes and appears to be a lock at becoming only the sixth Los Angeles Dodger to get voted into the National League’s starting lineup in consecutive years, joining Steve Garvey (1974-1975, 1978-1980), Ron Cey (1974-1975), Jimmy Wynn (1974-1975), Davey Lopes (1979-1981), and Mike Piazza (1994-1997).

Last year’s Home Run Derby champion Robinson Cano will lead the American League Home Run Derby squad. Each captain will select three additional players from their respective leagues to join them in the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby.