GOODYEAR, Ariz. – One morning before position players were required to report to spring training, Matt Kemp was among a small group of outfielders working on fielding ground balls and throwing to bases.
Minor league instructor Billy Hatcher, standing on the edge of the infield dirt and outfield grass, was hitting hard ground balls to their right, so outfielders could work on circling around the ball before scooping it and making their throws. One ball hit to Kemp wasn’t as far to the right as some of the others.
“Don’t take it easy on me,” Kemp said with a laugh as he tracked down a ball.