Kershaw: Dodgers' pursuit of Ohtani was 'gigantic waste of time'

Clayton Kershaw stopped paying attention to the hype surrounding Shohei Ohtani the moment the two-way phenom spurned the Los Angeles Dodgers for their rival in Anaheim.

"I (couldn't) care less now," Kershaw said when asked if he was excited following the first matchup between the two on Wednesday, according to ESPN. "He didn't pick us. Good luck to him."

The Dodgers were one of seven teams Ohtani selected as finalists in December, and Kershaw was part of the contingent that tried to bring the 23-year-old to Chavez Ravine. But Ohtani ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Angels, as the American League side could allow him the opportunity to both pitch and DH.

"Just a gigantic waste of time," Kershaw added, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.

"It really just seemed like it was predetermined that he wanted to DH. I'm kind of mad at his agent for making us waste all that time and effort. Fifteen teams should have been out of it, from the beginning. I know it's probably frustrating for everybody in the National League. A lot of guys spent a lot of time trying to figure out what makes him tick, and try to get him over here."

After meeting him in December as part of the recruitment, Kershaw got his first shot at facing the Japanese star on the field Wednesday, and needed just five pitches to strike him out.

"I fell behind him 2-0, had to throw two fastballs that he fouled off," Kershaw said. "So, I had to throw four straight fastballs and felt I had to throw something a little slower."

Ohtani acknowledged that Kershaw was one of the pitchers he watched before coming to the majors, and said it was a memorable experience to go up against the three-time Cy Young winner.

"I've been watching Kershaw pitch on TV a lot, but of course, it felt a lot different actually standing at the plate against him," Ohtani said. "It is still spring training games, but it was somewhat of a special moment to be able to face Kershaw."