CARY, N.C. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw isn’t done pitching yet, agreeing Thursday to join Team USA for this year’s World Baseball Classic.
Kershaw, a left-hander who turned 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, announced last September that he would retire at the end of the season, the 18th time in his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won his third World Series and finished with a 223-96 record, a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.
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The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner was hoping to play in the 2023 Championship for Team USA but was thwarted by insurance issues when he signed a $20 million, one-year contract with the Dodgers.
He joins an American pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jaquez, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb, and left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gav Speyer.
The Team USA roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr. Jr.); outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.
The United States, which lost to Japan in the 2023 championship game, will face Brazil in a group with Brazil, Great Britain, Italy and Mexico on March 6 in Houston.
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AP Baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB