Clayton Kershaw is set to start again for the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend, for the first time since August 30 of last year. He hinted at how his injury affected his retirement decision.
The future Hall of Famer started the 2024 season late after rehabbing from a shoulder surgery. When he did return, he soon ended up back on the injured list. He had surgeries to address knee and toe injuries and has spent time recovering. He will start on Saturday, but acknowledged that had he been a part of the Dodgers’ title run, he may have called it a career.
“Yeah, if I was able to be a part of last year’s run and win a World Series and get to go out like that, that would have been really cool,” Kershaw told the Los Angeles Times’ Jack Harris.”But I wasn’t. And it was still really fun to be part of. But it made it easier to want to come back, for sure.”
Kershaw has been on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues and is finally ready to make his return. When he makes his start, it will be his 18th season pitching for the Dodgers, and it could not come at a better time. Rōki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are all on the injured list. His manager, Dave Roberts, acknowledged Kershaw’s hard work to get back and what it means for the team.
“It’s a big shot in the arm,” Roberts told Harris. “Clayton has worked really hard to get healthy, and the bar is high for him, you know. He doesn’t want to just come back to be active. He wants to come back and help us win baseball games and be good. And so I know he’s excited to contribute.”
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Even though it did not happen last year, retirement is around the corner for the legendary pitcher. He is a former MVP Award winner, three-time Cy Young Award winner, Triple Crown winner, five-time ERA champion and 10-time All-Star. He has nothing left to prove on the field, but still wants to play.
“Somebody will tell me to retire at some point, I’m sure,” Kershaw told Harris.
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