Enjoy watching Matt Kemp’s star rise

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So how much fun is this going to be, watching Matt Kemp blossom into superstar?

He’s coming off a terrific season, is off to a great offensive start this year, and still you sense he’s only scratched the surface.

The talent is undeniable, almost exploding from 6-3 frame, and now he continues to add plate discipline. Less chasing of pitches in the dirt and more continued smart at-bats. Also powerful ones.

He put on an offensive show Wednesday night, each of his first four three at-bats special in its own way.

In the first inning he followed a Rafael Furcal single by drawing a walk, eventually scoring on a Manny Ramirez sacrifice fly.

He led off the third by lining a single, stole second, advanced to third on Andre Ethier’s fly and scored on an infield hit by Manny.

After the Diamondbacks scored three times in the top of the third to tie it 3-3, he crushed a two-run homer.

Then in the sixth, after Arizona had taken a 6-5 lead, he came up to bat with runners on the corners and no outs. He lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score the tying run.

He’s looking a lot like the guy fantasy leaguers considered a Top Ten player. He currently leads the Dodgers in home runs (three), RBI (11), runs (11) and hits (14).

Despite his Gold Glove, he’s had moments in the outfield this season where he’s struggled. He misjudged a fly in the 11th inning that cost the Dodgers a key run.

But he’s 25, not yet in the prime of his career, and just starting his fourth major-league season.

There’s more growth ahead, more fun to come.

__ Steve Dilbeck