Rihanna's Baseball Star Boyfriend Is 'Keeping Priorities in Order'

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 25th 2010 07:37AM

Dodgers star Matt Kemp just snagged a $10.95 million contract, but his recent rise to mega-fame might have less to do with his swing and more to do with his girlfriend. Kemp admits that living in Los Angeles -- and being in a high-profile relationship with pop star Rihanna -- comes with a level of celebrity he hadn't anticipated, but he's learning to deal with it. "You find different ways to handle it," Kemp tells MLB.com. "It can be a little overwhelming. But it's not going to affect my work. I get my work in and plan on repeating the same season or even better."

In some ways, Kemp has certainly embraced the celebrity lifestyle. Rihanna celebrated her birthday recently at a surprise Phoenix bash thrown by the baseball star. Kemp pulled out all the stops for Rihanna, reportedly giving her a diamond necklace and setting up a soiree that included "Sprinkles cupcakes, tiki torches in the pool and engraved bottles of Ace of Spades champagne and Johnny Walker Blue, as well as a Jamaican chef who whipped up lots of appetizers for the crowd."

The high life won't affect Kemp's game, says Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "When you get more famous, you get more attention. The fact that he's dating someone famous, it sort of doubles the attention, maybe quadruples the attention. I don't think he'll change what he's going to do. He'll probably have to work harder, not concentrating, but he'll have to answer more questions, get asked more questions."

"My advice to him is, the fact that you are going to get more attention, just make sure your priorities are in order," Torre says. "I don't think you have to say that to Matt Kemp. Off his personality, if the day comes where you feel that you have to talk to him, you do. Derek Jeter, after his first year, he was single in the city of New York, I talked to him. He assured me his priorities were in order, and they were."

Watch Rihanna - "Rude Boy (Sessions)"

Kemp's elevation to celebrity status has some unexpected perks as well -- like an upcoming photo shoot with GQ. "I don't consider myself a model of no type," Kemp says. "I think it's kind of cool. I read GQ. I see how people dress and keep my dress game up."

For Dodgers fans, Kemp is just about as hot on the playing field as Rihanna is on the charts. The 25-year-old center fielder is coming off the best season of his young career, having just won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. And it's only getting better for the star-in-the making -- MLB experts estimate the Oklahoma native may double his salary in 2011.

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Rihanna Snapshots

Rihanna attends a photo call during a short promotional tour in Sydney for her new album "Rated R" at the Intercontinental Hotel on February 14, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. More Photos >>

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Rihanna Snapshots

Pop star Rihanna attends a photo call during a short promotional tour in Sydney for her new album "Rated R" at the Intercontinental Hotel on February 14, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Rihanna Promotes "Rated R" In Sydney - Photo Call Sydney, Australia February 14, 2010 Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage.com To license this image (59587831), contact WireImage.com

Rihanna Snapshots

© BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Rihanna poses for photographers at Intercontinental Hotel to promote her new album 'Rated R.' NON-EXCLUSIVE February 14, 2010 Job: 100214W1 Sydney, Australia www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com

Rihanna Snapshots