It’s probably safe to say that there has never been a Dodger player who has sparked more emotion from Dodger fans than (now) 33-year-old current former Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.

I mean let’s face it. No other Dodger has been loved, hated, adored, or despised at one time or another more so than the 6′-4″ / 210-pound Midwest City, Oklahoma native and soon-to-be three-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner and two-time Silver Slugger winner, who was absolutely robbed of the 2011 National League’s MVP title by admitted PED user Ryan Braun.

Kemp, who was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2003 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Midwest City High School, immediately became a fan favorite after his MLB debut on May 28, 2006 and remained as such until the Dodgers broke their hearts by trading him to the San Diego Padres on December 18, 2014, along with backup catcher Tim Federowicz and cash in exchange for current Dodger catcher Yasmani Grandal and right-handers Joe Wieland and  Zach Eflin.

To add insult to injury, Kemp would be traded again, this time to the Atlanta Braves on July 30, 2016, when it was widely reported that the flamboyant outfielder (who once dated Rihanna) told the media that he was happy to finally be going to a real baseball town; a statement that, in a heartbeat, turned a one-time absolute love affair between Matt Kemp and his fans – both Los Angeles and San Diego – into pure hatred.

Lo and behold, on December 16, 2017 and much to the disdain of Dodger fans around the globe, the Dodgers reacquired Kemp from Atlanta in exchange for Adrian Gonzalez, Charlie Culberson, Scott Kazmir, and Brandon McCarthy (and cash) in a major salary dump for both teams.

Within 15 seconds of the Dodgers opening their clubhouse doors to the media at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona on the very first day of spring training 2018, Kemp was immediately – and I mean the very first question – asked about that ‘real baseball town’ thing … and there was zero doubt whatsoever that he knew it was coming. This was his reply verbatim:

“What you all need to understand is you all need to read that full thing what I said. A lot of LA fans got mad at me … I’m glad you asked me that question because I wanted to clear that up.

“Somebody had asked me how it was to be in Atlanta, and I said Atlanta’s always been known for the Braves, the Atlanta Braves, the baseball town – not the Atlanta Hawks, not the Falcons – but the Braves.

“In LA, when I first got here, it was all about Kobe, Shaq. As the years went on and we started winning more games, the city came alive, we had the best fans. It became a baseball town.

“I never said LA wasn’t a baseball town. I would never say that. I love LA, I love the fans. I would never disrespect the fans that helped me get to where I was … so bam.”

Now it’s easy to argue that Kemp had two years in which to prepare his answer to a question that he absolutely positively knew was coming, but having been right there and actually seeing the look in his eye and hearing the tone of his voice when he said it, I immediately sensed that he meant every word. That being said, the very moment that the deal went down, rumors were running beyond rampant that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi were immediately trying to flip Kemp to unload the remaining $43 million owed to Kemp on his eight year / $160 million contract that the Dodgers themselves signed him to following the 2011 season.

Although Friedman and Zaidi didn’t realize it at the time in their efforts to find someone – anyone – to take on that $43 million still owed to Kemp that had them dangerously close to the luxury tax threshold, by every indication, there has never been money better spent by the Dodgers.

As every Dodger fan knows, Kemp showed up for spring training in phenomenal shape. He put up modest numbers in the 21 spring training games in which he appeared, with a slash-line of .263 / .317 / .561 for an OPS of .879.

…and then the regular season started.

Kemp has not only been the most productive player on the team, he is on his way to his third All-Star Game next week and is a very real candidate to become the 2018 National League’s MVP.

On Monday night, the once-again fan favorite had what was arguably the greatest game of his (now) 13-year MLB career in the 17-1 pounding of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. All Kemp did was go 5-for-5 at the plate (on top of collecting hits in his three previous at-bats the day before), with two singles, a double, and a home run, while driving in four of the Dodgers 17 runs. He also drove in four of the Dodgers five runs the day before and is now a runaway team leader with his 55 RBI.

With his home run on Monday, Kemp now has 15 on the season. He has also hit safely in his last eight consecutive at-bats. (Photo credit – Mark J. Terrill)

Like I said, a very real candidate to become the 2018 National League’s MVP.

Obviously, when you put up 17 runs on 21 hits, Kemp wasn’t the only one who had a night to remember. Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger, center fielder Joc Pederson, and second baseman Max Muncy also homered on Monday night. Additionally, Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood picked up his fifth win of the season, while allowing only one run on six hits. He also walked none and struck out three in his 6.0 innings of work, to lower his season ERA to 3.84.

With his win on Monday night, Wood is now 5-5 on the season, with a 3.84 ERA. He also has 84 strikeouts, third most on the team. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

But without question and because of a weird quirk in the rule book, Dodgers left-hander Caleb Ferguson – on his 22nd birthday – picked up his first major league save. Accord to the rules and in spite of a 16-run lead, Ferguson was credited with the save because he pitched three innings, during which he allowed no runs and only three hits, while walking none and striking out one.

“A 16-run save? I didn’t know that was a thing,” Alex Wood told reporters after the game.

Ferguson’s 16-run save on Monday night is a new franchise record. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

But even with the excellent pitching performances by Wood and Ferguson, and even with the additional home runs by Bellinger, Pederson, and Muncy, Monday night, July 2, 2018 belonged to Matt Kemp – hands down.

Have a night, Matt Kemp.