Kemp has ‘great’ potential

Matt Kemp has the ability to become a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder.

That opinion doesn’t come from Kemp, Manager Joe Torre or anyone else in the Dodgers organization. It comes from the Angels’ Torii Hunter, a guy who knows a thing or two about playing center field as an eight-time Gold Glove Award winner.

“What’s scary is, he’s only 24 and he has tremendous upside,” Hunter said of Kemp on Sunday. “He’s good right now; he’s going to be great later.”

Kemp showed remarkable range in the second inning Saturday when he made a leaping catch on the warning track after a long run to rob Erick Aybar of an extra-base hit.

“A pretty good catch, I guess,” Kemp said.

Kemp is starting to make lots of them in his first season playing center field almost exclusively, though there are still occasional lapses. Hunter was credited with a double in the ninth inning Sunday when his drive to center field bounced off the heel of Kemp’s glove.

Kemp has made 66 of his 67 starts in center, but Torre said Kemp’s best position remains right field.

“That doesn’t mean he’s not a good center fielder,” Torre said. “His quickness out there has really been paying off for us and making that outfield a lot smaller. . . . He’s our best center fielder.”

Kemp said he’s “got a ways to go” to be considered among the best center fielders in baseball.

“There are some dudes who have accomplished some great things out there,” Kemp said. “I’ve got to stay consistent, keep doing what I do and hopefully one day I’ll be up there with the elite center fielders.”

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Out of order?

Kemp also possesses what some major league scouts consider the makeup of a top-notch middle-of-the-order hitter.

Among the Dodgers’ regulars since Manny Ramirez began serving his 50-game suspension last month, Kemp began Sunday with the second-highest slugging percentage (.482), third-highest number of homers (eight) and was tied for fourth in runs batted in (37).

But Kemp has batted No. 7 or lower in 44 of his 67 starts. He hit ninth Saturday and eighth Sunday.

“I’ve never really considered myself a nine-hole hitter, but it helps the team out, it gets more speed at the top of the lineup,” he said. “You’ve just got to wait around a little longer to get your at-bat. . . . I thought it would be bad, but it’s really not that bad.”

Asked if Kemp was hitting lower in the order than some people might think his numbers warrant, Torre said, “That’s why the people who look at the numbers don’t make the lineup.”

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Short hops

Jeff Weaver denied “big leaguing” Jered Weaver as his little brother teasingly claimed Saturday by not answering his calls before their pitching duel. “I don’t even take calls the day I throw,” Jeff said, “so I didn’t even look [at the phone] until after the game was over.” Jeff continued to receive kudos from teammates Sunday in the wake of his triumph over Jered and the Angels. “Life bragging rights,” Russell Martin said across the clubhouse, causing Jeff to smirk and shake his head. . . . Eric Milton, recovering from a strained back, pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings for Class-A Inland Empire against High Desert and is expected to rejoin the Dodgers on Friday or Saturday. . . . Will Ohman, on the disabled list with a sore shoulder, pitched a perfect inning for triple-A Albuquerque and could be activated this week.

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Times staff writer Bill Brink contributed to this report.

ben.bolch@latimes.com