Clayton Kershaw returned to the mound on Monday, however not for his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers.
The three-time Cy Younger Award winner, who retired on prime after the 2025 season, was on the mound throwing a bullpen session for Crew USA’s follow forward of the World Baseball Basic, which begins later this week.
Kershaw rode off into the sundown following back-to-back World Collection titles for the Los Angeles Dodgers, punctuated by a dramatic Sport 7 overcome the Toronto Blue Jays. However earlier than Cooperstown comes a calling, Kershaw wished to scratch yet another factor off his bucket checklist: carrying the pink, white, and blue on the mound for Crew USA.
Kershaw sat down with ESPN tv host Pat McAfee on Monday throughout Crew USA’s follow to speak about his determination to retire, to return for the WBC, and likewise share insights on being within the locker room with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Following the dialog, Kershaw and McAfee took turns dealing with off on the mound and on the plate for charity.
“My arm advised me it was time,” Kershaw mentioned, seated throughout from McAfee, reflecting on why he walked away.
Nonetheless, he’s obtainable to pitch for the subsequent three weeks. “I’ll throw zero. I’ll throw each sport. It doesn’t matter,” he advised Crew USA supervisor Mark DeRosa. He known as the WBC a bucket-list dream, describing its ambiance as October with a nationwide anthem wrapped round it.
Kershaw later grinned and mentioned he thought he nonetheless had “sufficient” to get McAfee out on the mound.
McAfee, for his half, regarded like a person who’d simply challenged a mountain when he determined to face off with the previous MVP. Aaron Decide had provided him recommendation beforehand: “intention for the mountain past the outfield.” It didn’t assist. MLB’s teaser clip confirmed McAfee spiking a pitch into the other batter’s field earlier than muttering, “There’s no approach I’m going to throw it over the plate.”
Upon seeing the video above, McAfee tweeted his respect for Kershaw, and admitted he had “no thought the place the ball was going. IT ALL HURT SO BAD.”
The complete outcomes of the face off between McAfee and Kershaw have but to be launched publicly, however the California Submit will publish them right here as soon as they do.
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