Clayton Kershaw’s ‘perfect’ ending has one final chapter in WBC

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — How to improve the perfect ending?

Clayton Kershaw stood in the desert heat Monday, wearing a much darker shade of blue than the Dodgers. He doesn’t need a medal, or a chance to fail. His election to the Hall of Fame will only be a formality.

In his bye year, the Dodgers won the World Series, becoming baseball’s first back-to-back champions in 25 years. It got a critical release. He was bathed in adoration at the championship rally and he told fans he would be one of them this year.

“I’ll watch,” he shouted that day, “like all of you.”

Four months later, he was back in uniform.

He wore a dark blue jersey with red and white piping. As Team USA conducted its first World Baseball Classic practice, Kershaw participated in pitchers’ field practice and hit fly balls during batting practice. He could have been at home with his five children, but instead he was rushing off the mound to throw a throw to first base.

As it turned out, that November night in Toronto wasn’t the last time we saw him in uniform.

“It feels good,” he said Monday. “I wouldn’t wear a uniform for anything else. It’s a special thing.”

He put the World Baseball Classic in a red, white and blue perspective.

“It’s a bucket list thing for me,” he said.

He’s either self-deprecating, or terribly honest about his current abilities, or maybe a little of both.

The last World Baseball Classic came down to Shohei Ohtani throwing to Mike Trout. This one might come down to Kershaw and Ohtani.

“I think, for the sake of our country, it would probably be better if I didn’t do it,” Kershaw said.

Former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw fields a ground ball during a practice session at Papago Park Sports Complex on Monday.

(Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

Never say never. Team USA planned to field a formidable rotation of Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, Joe Ryan and Logan Webb, but now Skubal says he will only pitch once in the tournament. Skenes says he will throw twice. Ryan says he won’t throw at least in the first round.

Kershaw might be needed beyond his promised role: preventing the team from using current major league pitchers in blowouts or extra innings.

In 11 career at-bats against Kershaw, Ohtani has no hits. Kershaw won’t escape the mission if he gets it, but he considers it so unlikely that he’s happy to share his game plan publicly.

“It’s about throwing it, throwing it, playing it, hoping it flies out to the left,” Kershaw said. “Don’t throw him in his barrel.

“I can’t imagine that if it comes down to the United States versus Japan, with the weapons we have, I will be needed. But I will be ready.”

Kershaw’s average fastball velocity dropped to 89 mph last season, but he led the majors in winning percentage. He could eat up innings for some teams — maybe even the Dodgers, with Blake Snell and Gavin Stone almost certain to be unavailable on Opening Day.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, right, celebrates with his teammates after the Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2025 World Series title.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

But, even with his success last year and even with the joy of wearing a uniform again, he insists he is not interested in pitching beyond the WBC.

“I don’t want to,” he said. “You can’t finish this better than last year. I had a great time last year. It was an absolute pleasure and an honor to be a part of this team. I think it was the perfect way to finish this. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have enough in the tank to throw a full season again. I’m really at peace with this decision.

“It’s a bit of a weird thing, but you can’t really turn down the opportunity. It wasn’t easy to prepare for this, with no motivation for a season, but actually I’m in a pretty good place with my arm. I’ll be fine. If they need me, I’ll be ready.”

Kershaw said he stayed in touch with his former Dodgers teammates, some connecting via video calls from the weight room or clubhouse at Camelback Ranch. He arrived in the Phoenix area two days before practice, but was unable to make it to Camelback Ranch.

“I thought about it,” he said. “I miss the guys. I think it’s probably best, at least for this first year, for me mentally to stay away, just for spring training.”

Kershaw said he will be at Dodger Stadium for the championship ceremony on March 27.

He is content with what he calls “the daddy life”. He and his wife, Ellen, just welcomed their fifth child, and Dad’s life includes a lot of traveling to baseball and basketball practices.

“I run an Uber service,” Kershaw said.

It wouldn’t be a Dodgers story these days without a reference to the team’s big spending, so, for what it’s worth, Kershaw spent some time Tuesday chatting with Skubal, who will be the big prize on the free agent market next winter, or whenever the likely lockout might end.

That’s a rational explanation, Kershaw says, for Skubal only throwing once in the WBC.

“Everyone knows the situation they’re in, contractually,” Kershaw said. “Any innings we can get out of him is a huge bonus for this team. He’s awesome. Super competitive. We’re honored to have him.”

Should we assume Skubal will pitch for the Dodgers next season? Kershaw laughed.

“No comment,” he said, then walked away to prepare for the first game of his life after retirement.