Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw confirms final World Baseball Classic appearance for Team USA

The veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw is set to play for Team USA for the first and last time in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The fans will see the longtime ace, who spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, return to competitive action, despite having previously retired from MLB.

For Kershaw, the choice is a significant voiceover in a career with honors. Following years of individual and team achievements at the professional level, the 2026 event offers him a long-awaited chance to compete for his country on the international baseball stage, transforming what could have been a lost chapter into a defining farewell.

Why Clayton Kershaw’s World Baseball Classic return carries special significance

The fact that Kershaw is finally getting to play in the World Baseball Classic matters because he had never been offered the opportunity before, due to circumstances beyond his control. He was scheduled to pitch for Team USA in 2023 but withdrew due to insurance issues stemming from his contract and injury history, which made competing at that stage infeasible.

Unlike a full MLB season, where Kershaw would face the physical grind and contractual obligations, he now has the option to tailor his preparation to the WBC. That means he can go and help his country without the immediate burden of balancing the long-term durability concerns necessary to protect the short-term investment.


Kershaw checks the boxes of a future Hall of Famer, with multiple Cy Youngs, an MVP award, and a few World Series in his resume. Now that an international appearance adds to that list, even at the tail end of his career, enhances his legacy and rounds out an ambition and personal goal he talked about often over the years.

What Clayton Kershaw adds to Team USA’s 2026 ambitions

Kershaw isn't likely to start games on an everyday basis in MLB, but he brings experience, leadership, and pedigree to a Team USA lineup that figures to have a lot of burgeoning young talent alongside some veteran presence in the role as well. His reputation for handling high-pressure moments remains intact across the sport, and a short-format tournament seems an ideal setting for him to be considered at this stage of his career.

In Houston, Team USA will kick off its 2026 quest, with international championship-level expectations just as high. Kershaw may not pitch often, but when he does, the impact could still be big.

Also Read: Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer height comparison: Who stands taller on the mound


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