Did Clayton Kershaw retire? Why ex-Dodgers LHP is in World Baseball Classic

In 18 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw put together a rather impressive career that likely will make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer, all while quickly becoming one of the greatest left-handed pitchers of his generation.

It’s a lengthy list of accomplishments that includes three National League Cy Young Awards, three World Series rings and 11 All-Star Game selections. He is also just one of 20 pitchers in Major League Baseball history to reach the 3,000 career strikeout mark, a feat he accomplished in July of last year.

He now looks to add another accolade to his Hall of Fame plaque: World Baseball Classic champion with Team USA.

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“I’m so excited to be here and be with this group. … I Amazon’d all my gear. I’m ready, dude,” Kershaw jokingly said on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, March 2. “I’ve been ready for a long time. I’m just so fired up to be on this team. And I told them, D-Ro (Mark DeRosa) and Andy Pettitte, our pitching guy, ‘Whatever you guys want. I’ll throw zero. I’ll throw every game. It doesn’t matter. I’m done after this. I’ll do whatever you want.'”

But if Kershaw is retired from The Show, why is he playing in the WBC for Team USA?

Here’s what to know about Kershaw:

Is Clayton Kershaw retired?

Yes, Kershaw is recently retired. The WBC is going to be the final competition that Kershaw will pitch in.

He announced his intention to retire after 18 seasons in Dodger Blue on Thursday, Sept. 18 at a news conference inside Dodger Stadium.

“I’m at peace with it and I think it’s the right time,” Kershaw said. “It’s been a fun year and such a blast. I can’t think of a better season to go out, but we have a lot to accomplish.”

Much like how Peyton Manning went off into the sunset after winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos, Kershaw had a Hollywood ending, as the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays in extra innings of Game 7 of the World Series.”It’s not a sad feeling. It really isn’t,” Kershaw said following Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. “I will, forever, for the rest of my life, get to say, we won Game 7 of the World Series the last game I played. You can’t script it, you can’t write it up.

“Even if I was not throwing 88, I’d still be done. It’s just the perfect way to end it.”

Is Clayton Kershaw playing in WBC?

Yes, the former Dodgers left-hander is competing in the WBC. It’s the first time that Kershaw is playing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, which is in its sixth iteration.

He is expected to come out of the bullpen for Team USA.