Clayton Kershaw’s Last Moment in Major League Baseball
Although Clayton Kershaw’s career in Major League Baseball might be winding down, the future Hall of Fame pitcher is not finished just yet.
In what will serve as a final tribute to the sport, Kershaw will don the Team USA jersey in this spring’s World Baseball Classic, as announced by USA Baseball on Thursday. This marks Kershaw’s first appearance in the WBC after he had to withdraw from the 2023 tournament due to difficulties in obtaining the required insurance.
Back in September, Kershaw, now 37, revealed he plans to retire following the 2025 season, concluding an impressive 18-year tenure with the Dodgers.
He wrapped up the recent season with a strong 11-2 record and a 3.36 ERA, helping the Dodgers reach two consecutive World Series during the postseason. One standout moment was his heroic 12th-inning performance in Game 3 of the World Series, which would end up being his final appearance in MLB.
However, the announcement on Thursday implies that Kershaw’s last outing won’t be defined solely by last October’s playoff games.
For most of his career, Kershaw hadn’t seriously contemplated joining the WBC, but now the opportunity is there for him this year—a chance he missed out on in 2023. Back then, he expressed eagerness about representing Team USA for the first time, saying he was “really excited about” it.
Unfortunately, he had to turn it down due to issues surrounding insurance; this insurance is a necessity for all participants under the MLB contract, primarily because of potential injury risks. And for players with a history of injuries, like Kershaw—who has faced back and elbow problems in recent years—securing that coverage can be quite challenging.
Reflecting on that time, Kershaw expressed disappointment: “It just didn’t work out.” Clearly, this opportunity means a lot to him now.
With the announcement made, Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and a strong candidate for a first-ballot Hall of Famer, is ready to step back onto the mound one last time before officially calling it a career.
