CARY, N.C. — Clayton Kershaw isn’t done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year’s World Baseball Classic.
The left-hander, who turns 38 two days after the March 17 WBC championship game, announced in September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.
The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the U.S. in the 2023 WBC but was prevented because of insurance issues at a time he had a one-year, $20 million contract with the Dodgers.
He joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb and left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gabe Speier.
The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.
The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens play March 6 against Brazil in Houston, part of a group that also includes Britain, Italy and Mexico.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/15/clayton-kershaw-world-baseball-classic/



