Matt Kemp Injury: Dodgers OF to be healthy for 2013

Doctors have said that they expect Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp to be fully healthy for the start of the 2013 season, reports Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times:

But Kemp, who's rehabbing in the Phoenix area, was also told he should be fully healed for the start of the season. He expects to start swinging the bat in January.

Kemp underwent surgery on his shoulder earlier this month. While he and the Dodgers expected the procedure to be minor, doctors uncovered significant damage to the labrum in his left shoulder. The injury was so significant that doctors said they were surprised Kemp was able to play through the end of the season.

Kemp is currently rehabbing from the injury and doctors do not expect it to cause him to miss time. Entering 2012 he had lofty goals, including hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases, but now he says he’s just focused on staying healthy.

Kemp was limited to under 600 at-bats for the first time since 2007 this year, as he hit .303/.367/.538 with 22 doubles, 23 home runs and nine stolen bases in 13 attempts over 403 at-bats.