01/15/26 12:02:00
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01/15 12:01 CST Clayton Kershaw not quite done pitching, will play for US in
World Baseball Classic
Clayton Kershaw not quite done pitching, will play for US in World Baseball
Classic
CARY, N.C. (AP) --- Clayton Kershaw isn't done pitching just yet, agreeing
Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year's World Baseball Classic.
A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game,
Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season,
his 18th in a stellar career for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won his third
World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in
the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues at a time he
had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Dodgers.
Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will
join the U.S. team.
Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar,
Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and
Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gave Speier.
The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith;
infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.;
outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge;
and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.
The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against
Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Brazil, Britain, Italy
and Mexico.
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AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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