In his farewell year, the Dodgers won the World Series<\/a>, becoming baseball\u2019s first back-to-back champions in 25 years. He secured a critical out. He bathed in adoration at the championship rally, and he told the fans he would be one of them this year.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to watch,\u201d he hollered that day, \u201cjust like all of you.\u201d<\/p>\n Four months later, he was back in uniform.<\/p>\n He wore a dark blue jersey with red-and-white piping. As Team USA ran through its first World Baseball Classic<\/a> workout, Kershaw participated in pitchers\u2019 fielding practice and shagged fly balls during batting practice. He could have been home with his five kids, and instead he was rushing off the mound to take a throw at first base.<\/p>\n That November night in Toronto, as it turned out, was not the last time we would see him in uniform.<\/p>\n \u201cFeels good,\u201d he said Monday. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t put on a uniform for anything else. This is a special thing.\u201d<\/p>\n He put the World Baseball Classic into red, white and blue perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a bucket list thing for me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He is either self-deprecating or painfully honest about his capabilities right now, or perhaps a little of both.<\/p>\n The last World Baseball Classic came down to Shohei Ohtani pitching to Mike Trout<\/a>. This one could come down to Kershaw pitching to Ohtani.<\/p>\n \u201cI think, for our country\u2019s sake, it\u2019s probably better if I don\u2019t,\u201d Kershaw said.<\/p>\n Former Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw fields a ground ball during a workout at Papago Park Sports Complex on Monday.<\/p>\n (Chris Coduto \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n Never say never. Team USA planned to run a tremendous rotation of Tarik Skubal<\/a>, Paul Skenes<\/a>, Joe Ryan<\/a> and Logan Webb<\/a>, but now Skubal says he will pitch just once in the tournament. Skenes says he\u2019ll pitch twice. Ryan says he won\u2019t pitch in the first round, at least.<\/p>\n Kershaw might be needed beyond the role he was promised: save the team from using the current major league pitchers in blowouts or extra innings.<\/p>\n In 11 career at-bats against Kershaw, Ohtani has no hits. Kershaw won\u2019t duck the assignment if gets it, but he considers it so unlikely he is happy to share his game plan publicly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s throw it, pitch away, play away, hope he flies out to left,\u201d Kershaw said. \u201cDon\u2019t throw it in his barrel.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t imagine, if it comes down to USA versus Japan, with the arms that we have, that I\u2019ll be needed. But I\u2019ll be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Kershaw\u2019s average fastball velocity dropped to 89 mph last season, but he led the majors in winning percentage. He could eat innings for some team \u2014 maybe even the Dodgers, with Blake Snell<\/a> and Gavin Stone<\/a> all but certain to be unavailable on opening day.<\/p>\n Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, right, celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2025 World Series title.<\/p>\n (Robert Gauthier \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n But, even with his success last year and even with the joy of wearing a uniform once again, he insists he isn\u2019t interested in pitching beyond the WBC.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to,\u201d he said. \u201cYou can\u2019t end it better than I did last year. I had a great time last year. It was an absolute blast and honor to be on that team. I think that was the perfect way to end it. Honestly, I don\u2019t know if I would have enough in the tank to pitch for a full season again. I\u2019m really at peace with that decision.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is kind of a weird one-off thing, but you can\u2019t really turn down this opportunity. It wasn\u2019t easy to get ready for this, with no motivation for a season, but I actually am in a pretty good spot with my arm. I\u2019ll be fine. If they need me, I\u2019ll be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772510654_977_.jpeg\")
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