The year 2011 is one that most Dodger fans will probably remember forever. It was the year that Matt Kemp had 40 stolen bases and 39 home runs and was cheated out of the NL MVP Award – literally. Many baseball experts and analysts called Kemp the best player in the game at the time and you’d be hard pressed to prove otherwise.

Kemp showed that he was the first five-tool Dodger player to come along since Raúl Mondesí and without question, Kemp’s best tool, or at least one of his best, was his tremendous speed – both in running the bases and in running down fly balls in the outfield.

And then came the injuries – more specifically, the ankle injury that actually put his career in jeopardy. A senseless and preventable severe ankle roll that he himself calls stupid and the result of him not hustling.

After nearly two full years and a series of shoulder and ankle surgeries, Kemp is back playing everyday, this time as the Dodgers everyday right fielder – the position that he was originally brought up from the minors to play. And though his shoulder and ankle are technically 100% healthy, the one tool that hasn’t returned for the 29-year-old Midwest City, OK native is that tremendous speed that he once had.

Since the All-Star break Kemp is 17 for 39 (.436) with three home runs, one triple, one double and 11 RBIs; but it is his improving speed that has Dodger fans excited. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But in Wednesday night’s exciting 3-2 extra-inning win over the Atlanta Braves, Kemp did something that he hasn’t done in almost two years – he ran fast. Fast enough, in fact, to make it from first to third on a Juan Uribe infield single and then make it from second to home on yet another Juan Uribe infield single. Granted, it wasn’t blazing Dee Gordon speed, but it was fast enough that neither play was all that close.

“It’s always good to run,” said Kemp when asked about the two plays after the game. “Right now I’m not as fast as I want to be, but you be aggressive, make some things happen. It sure feels good to be in a position to score a run or take that extra base. That’s important, especially with the guys that we got in our line-up, you getting in scoring position.”

Kemp went from first to third on an infield single by Juan Uribe – evidence that his speed is beginning to return. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Kemp acknowledges that his running game is still a work in progress but he is very confident that it will come back to him.

“It’s coming, it’s coming. If I keep hitting home runs I won’t have to worry about that,” kidded Kemp.

With all of the trade rumors involving Kemp now (apparently) laid to rest, and with him swinging a smoking hot bat right now, if Kemp can regain the speed that he once had (or even get remotely close to it), we may once again see that 2011 version of Matt Kemp – and that would be a very good thing.