Retired Kershaw Joins Team USA for 2026 WBC

Clayton Kershaw, the retired Los Angeles Dodgers ace, will represent the United States in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, marking a return to competitive play nearly four months after ending his 18-season major league career. USA Baseball announced the 37-year-old pitcher's addition to the roster on Thursday, providing him an opportunity to pitch internationally for the first time in the tournament.

Kershaw announced his retirement on September 18, 2025, following the Dodgers' World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. His final major league appearance came in Game 3 of the series, an 18-inning marathon at Dodger Stadium that the Dodgers won 6-5 on Freddie Freeman's walk-off home run. Kershaw entered in the top of the 12th inning with the bases loaded, two outs, and the score tied at 5-5. Facing Nathan Lukes, he induced a groundout to second baseman Tommy Edman on eight pitches, preserving the tie and helping secure the Dodgers' second straight championship.

This WBC commitment fulfills a long-standing goal for Kershaw, who was selected for the 2023 tournament but withdrew due to complications obtaining an insurance policy. At the time, after consultations with Major...