Clayton Kershaw Commits to Team USA for World Baseball Classic in Potential Final Competitive Appearance

Clayton Kershaw is not finished throwing competitive pitches just yet, committing Thursday to pitch for Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic in what could serve as the final on field chapter of his Hall of Fame career.

Major League Baseball confirmed Kershaw’s participation ahead of the tournament, which begins March 4 and runs during spring training. The decision comes months after Kershaw announced his retirement following the 2025 season, which concluded with a second consecutive World Series championship for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kershaw, who turns 38 in March, described his role with Team USA as flexible and team oriented rather than performance driven. Speaking with MLB Network, he said his focus is on availability and support rather than guaranteed innings, positioning himself as depth for a roster loaded with elite arms.

The left hander’s final major league appearance came in Game 3 of the World Series, when he entered out of the bullpen in the 12th inning with two outs and the bases loaded. He escaped the jam without allowing a run, helping the Dodgers secure a win that eventually led to another title.

Despite pitching through physical limitations in 2025, Kershaw remained effective, finishing 11 and 2 with a 3.36 ERA. As the postseason progressed, he transitioned into an emergency relief role, a usage pattern expected to mirror his deployment for Team USA during the WBC.

Team USA has assembled one of its deepest pitching staffs to date, with Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Logan Webb, Joe Ryan, Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes among those who have committed to the tournament. All starters are expected to operate under strict pitch counts due to the timing of the event within spring training schedules.

Kershaw said he initially assumed Team USA manager Mark DeRosa was reaching out about a potential coaching role. After beginning to throw again roughly two weeks ago, he reconsidered, noting that his arm responded better than expected.

This will mark Kershaw’s first World Baseball Classic appearance after he was forced to withdraw from the 2023 tournament because he was unable to secure insurance coverage on his contract, largely due to his injury history.

The addition of Kershaw provides Team USA with veteran stability and postseason experience unmatched on the roster. While his role is expected to be limited, his presence carries symbolic weight for a program aiming to blend emerging stars with proven championship leadership.

The next steps include monitoring Kershaw’s workload as the tournament approaches and finalizing Team USA’s pitching rotation and bullpen structure. Whether or not he takes the mound, the World Baseball Classic now represents a meaningful final stage for one of baseball’s defining pitchers of the modern era.