Clayton Kershaw's First and Perhaps Final Appearance for Team USA
Clayton Kershaw, the legendary pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is making a rare appearance on the World Baseball Classic roster as a 'break glass in case of emergency' player. With no guarantee of seeing game action, his Wednesday exhibition against the Colorado Rockies could be his only time on the mound in a Team USA jersey.
Despite his retirement after the previous season, Kershaw expressed his excitement about being part of Team USA, stating, 'Just being on this team was a bucket list thing for me from the beginning.' He allowed a home run, a walk, and threw a wild pitch, but the pro-Rockies crowd still cheered for him, recognizing his impact on the game.
Team USA captain Aaron Judge shared his admiration for Kershaw, saying, 'I had chills out there for the little standing ovation he got.'
Kershaw's decision to pitch again wasn't easy, as he admitted, 'it wasn't going to be fun.' However, he couldn't resist the opportunity when manager Mark DeRosa called. His teammates, like Kyle Schwarber, are equally thrilled, eager to learn from a potential Hall of Famer.
The article hints at the possibility of Kershaw's best chances to pitch during pool play, where Team USA has an easy draw. With the team's impressive performance in exhibition games, a blowout could be Kershaw's opportunity to shine.
Kershaw himself seems to embrace the moment, stating, 'If that was the last time on the mound, it was worth it for sure.' He expressed satisfaction with his performance, despite the challenges, and is grateful for the experience.
