Dodgers’ Matt Kemp is happy Ryan Braun won appeal

Reporting from Phoenix — Matt Kemp said Friday he was relieved to hear that Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers had successfully appealed his positive drug test and wouldn’t be serving a 50-game suspension.

“I was happy that he was not found guilty,” Kemp said. “I know he’s been going through a lot. Now, he and the Brewers can concentrate on just playing baseball, going about their business.”

Kemp finished second to Braun in voting for the National League most valuable player last season. Kemp had previously said he was disappointed by the results but said he didn’t want the award if Braun were suspended and stripped of it.

Kemp said he hasn’t spoken to Braun, whom he has called “a friend.”

“I’m sure I’ll see him in spring training,” Kemp said.

Kemp didn’t share his thoughts on reports that Braun escaped punishment on a technicality. Braun’s lawyers argued that his urine sample was not handled correctly, according to multiple reports.

“I don’t know how any of that works,” Kemp said. “I don’t get into any of that, man.”

Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ union representative, said he was pleased to learn a player could win an appeal. Braun was the first major league player to overturn a positive drug test under baseball’s drug policy.

“Sometimes when you hear that people appeal, as a player, you just kind of assume there’s no chance,” Kershaw said. “To see it be overturned, you know there’s some hope if that there are mistakes, you do have a chance.”

Uribe could report late

Juan Uribe isn’t expected to report to Camelback Ranch with the rest of the Dodgers’ position players Monday; he is scheduled to be in a San Francisco courtroom that day.

Uribe is being sued by his former landlord for $145,000 in damages resulting from a kitchen fire he is suspected of starting while playing for the San Francisco Giants in 2010. The trial is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Attorney Josh S. Brownstein, who is representing plaintiff Christina Esteras, said the case “absolutely” cannot be settled in one day.

“It will be a few days,” Brownstein said.

If Brownstein is right, Uribe will miss the first couple of days of full-squad workouts. The first full-squad workout is Tuesday.

But Brownstein said because of crowding in the San Francisco court system, there is no guarantee a courtroom will be available Monday. If that’s the case, Brownstein said the litigants will be on telephone standby. Brownstein said his client had no intention of allowing Uribe to leave for spring training until the case was settled.

“We’ve been trying to get it done for a year and a half,” Brownstein said.

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly said he is aware of Uribe’s pending case. Uribe’s lawyers and agent didn’t return calls.

Uribe is coming off the worst season of his career. In the first year of a three-year, $21-million deal, Uribe was limited to 77 games and hit .204 with four home runs and 28 runs batted in. He underwent season-ending hernia surgery in September.

Short hops

Kershaw threw his first bullpen session of the spring and said he didn’t experience any of the stiffness in his back that made him postpone it for two days. … Mike MacDougal, who felt a twinge in his back during fielding drills Wednesday, also threw a bullpen session. … Ted Lilly, whose wife gave birth to the couple’s second child Tuesday, reported to camp.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com