Clayton Kershaw's Final Pitches Will Be for Team USA
Clayton Kershaw is a future Hall of Famer who spent every inning of his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This spring, though, the left-hander will make his final (in all likelihood) pitches as a baseball player for a different team: Team USA.
Clayton Kershaw gearing up for final outing in pro baseball
Clayton Kershaw has already retired from the MLB. He went out with a bang, helping win an extra-inning game in the World Series as his team repeated as champions. He's done with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
However, he's out for one last hurrah with Team USA. He was not on the team that fell short in 2023, but he wants to get his country a championship as perhaps his final act in professional baseball. He's a depth pitcher, but he's savoring this final go.
Kershaw pitched in the final exhibition for the Americans on Wednesday. He and Team USA routed the Colorado Rockies, a team the Dodgers ace has spent many years tormenting, 14-4 in what could be the final pitches of his career.
"Just being on this team was a bucket list thing for me from the beginning," Kershaw said after the victory. "Obviously, I thought I was never going to throw a baseball again. So to get to do it with Team USA across your chest and come back to that dugout, that team is really special."
Rockies fans have hated Kershaw for years, but they cheered him on in this one. When he left the game, fans showered him with cheers. They recognize the figure he is and what he's meant to the sport for the better part of two decades.
Captain Aaron Judge admitted, "I had chills out there for the little standing ovation he got. The crowd went crazy for him pitching." They were louder for Kershaw than they were for their own players, despite the Rockies taking a stunning lead midway through the contest.
Kershaw has never played in the World Baseball Classic, something his teammates were surprised to hear. "I never knew he never got to play in the WBC," Kyle Schwarber said. "I'm so excited for him. To be able to pick his brain -- a first-ballot Hall of Famer -- you get to hear him talk, that's awesome."
Will Kershaw actually pitch for Team USA?
Mark DeRosa, Team USA's manager, doesn't know how or when Kershaw will get into a game. It's true that the Americans have assembled a star-studded rotation. They have Paul Skenes, Logan Webb, and Tarik Skubal headlining, and the bullpen is deep, too.
Kershaw, whose best days are certainly behind him, isn't going to be the go-to pitcher in any situation. The most likely chance for him will be in group play when his team gets a huge lead. They scored 29 runs in two exhibitions, so there's a chance he comes in to finish up a blowout.
If Kershaw is called in during a close game, it would be a surprise or because something went horribly wrong. Unfortunately, that means there's no guarantee he'll compete in a real, meaningful game for his country. He's fine with that.
"If that was the last time on the mound, it was worth it for sure," the longtime Dodgers ace said. "I felt fine. Arm feels good, body's fine. I mean, it's not good anymore, but it's good enough for me not to embarrass myself."
The next thing Kershaw is likely to do is don a Hall of Fame jacket. For now, though, he's happy just to be a part of one of the best rosters in the World Baseball Classic. Maybe they'll win the top prize and he'll get a share of it.
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