Clayton Kershaw’s Final Appearance in the World Baseball Classic
Clayton Kershaw Announces Retirement Ahead of Final Series
As the Los Angeles Dodgers prepare for their final regular season series at Dodger Stadium, star pitcher Clayton Kershaw has officially announced his retirement. The announcement comes just days before what will be his last regular season start at home, followed by a final appearance at Seattle and a concluding World Series appearance at Dodger Stadium.
“I know they’re going to get one more next year,” Kershaw told the crowd, expressing his plans to support the team as a fan.
In an unexpected turn, Kershaw will also join Team USA for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The tournament begins in his home state of Texas, with Team USA facing Brazil on March 6. Despite a storied career that includes multiple awards—like a most valuable player accolade, three Cy Young Awards, three World Series titles, 3,000 strikeouts, and a no-hitter—Kershaw has never participated in the World Baseball Classic until now.
Kershaw had initially committed to play for Team USA in 2023, stating it might be “probably my last chance to do it.” However, he faced difficulties securing the necessary insurance after spending time on the injured list in 2022 due to a back injury. Reflecting on this experience, he remarked, “It’s just such a great group that it would have been really fun to be a part of. It’s almost like an All-Star Game with meaning. I was getting really excited about it.”
During the peak of his career, Kershaw would have been a frontrunner for crucial games for Team USA. However, with the roster featuring notable pitchers like Cy Young winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, along with top starters Logan Webb and Joe Ryan, Kershaw may now serve in a bullpen role.
This postseason, Kershaw was utilized as a relief pitcher, notably in a dramatic Game 3 of the World Series. He entered the game in the 12th inning with the Toronto Blue Jays loading the bases. Kershaw successfully retired Nathan Lukes after an intense eight-pitch at-bat, contributing to the Dodgers’ victory in the 18th inning, their sole World Series win at Dodger Stadium, capped off by a home run from Freddie Freeman.
The upcoming World Baseball Classic marks its sixth edition, with Team USA having claimed victory once in 2017 at Dodger Stadium, while Japan has triumphed three times, including the last tournament in 2023, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani striking out his then-teammate Mike Trout for the final out.
Kershaw will be joining longtime Dodgers catcher Will Smith on Team USA. The finals of the WBC are slated to take place in Miami from March 15-17.
