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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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Months after it seemed he had thrown his final competitive pitch in a baseball uniform, Clayton Kershaw was a surprise addition to the Team USA roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic on Thursday.
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In an interview with MLB Network, Kershaw discussed the possibility of pitching to his former teammate, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, in a WBC game this March.
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"I think something will have gone terribly wrong if I have to pitch against Team Japan in the finals or something," Kershaw said. "I think we've got plenty of guys to get that guy out and not me. If that happens, I'll be nervous. I'l be nervous at this point."
Kershaw announced his retirement from Major League Baseball, effective at the end of the 2025 World Series, last September. The Dodgers made sure he ended his 18-year career on top by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in a memorable seven-game series.
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A three-time Cy Young Award winner and National League MVP at his peak, Kershaw played a bit role in the Dodgers' latest championship run. He retired the only batter he faced in the seven-game series, in the 12th inning of Game 3, which the Dodgers ultimately won. He also pitched two innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Division Series.
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Kershaw had not pitched that extensively in relief since 2008, his first postseason run with the Dodgers. His third World Series ring came after an outstanding regular season in which the 37-year-old left-hander went 11-2 with a 3.36 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) for the Dodgers.
Against this backdrop, it would not be a surprise to see the future Hall of Famer help Team USA at some point in its quest to win the WBC. Judging by Kershaw's comments Thursday, however, he won't be stealing innings from committed starters Tarik Skubal or Paul Skenes at a critical moment in the tournament.
Team Japan defeated Team USA in the championship game of the most recent edition of the WBC in 2023.
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