Kemp's latest test of healing ankle goes well

LOS ANGELES -- Outfielder Matt Kemp tested his sprained left ankle on Sunday, shagging balls in center field and taking early batting practice on the field at Dodger Stadium.

It was the first time Kemp had tracked fly balls and fielded grounders since he injured his ankle in an awkward slide at home plate on June 21 in Washington, and he moved well.

Kemp sprayed the ball to all fields during a few rounds of BP as manager Don Mattingly and hitting coach Mark McGwire watched. Kemp, on the disabled list for the third time this season, has been hitting since Wednesday.

"It was good," Mattingly said. "Matt is going in the right direction for us. He's getting closer to playing."

Kemp also worked out in the weight room on Sunday and did some light running indoors, but he has yet to run at full speed.

"We've still got to get to him stopping at full speed, cutting at full speed," Mattingly said. "He's running stairs and making turns. I don't know if any of that is full speed yet, but we're moving in the right direction."