Retired Kershaw to pitch for Team USA at WBC
Clayton Kershaw's baseball journey isn't over yet.
The left-hander retired from Major League Baseball at the end of the 2025 season after 18 years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the pitcher will represent the United States at the World Baseball Classic.
CLAYTON KERSHAW!
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) January 15, 2026
The three-time World Series champ, 11-time All-Star, three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, and 2014 NL MVP will suit up one last time for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/CnUnpa1oeH
This will be Kershaw's first time pitching at the WBC. The 37-year-old was slated to play for his country in 2023 but withdrew at the last minute due to a reported issue with an insurance policy related to a previous back injury.
Kershaw pitched his last regular-season game Sept. 28 against the Seattle Mariners, striking out seven across 5 1/3 innings. He returned to pitch 1/3 of an inning in the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays before officially retiring a champion.
The future Hall of Famer is considered one of the best left-handed starters of all time after winning an NL MVP, three Cy Youngs, five ERA titles, and a Triple Crown.