Clayton Kershaw to Pitch for One More Team After MLB Retirement

Kershaw's Hall of Fame baseball career will include one final pit stop in the World Baseball Classic.

Kershaw in September announced the 2025 season would be his last in MLB. | JOE LUMAYA/SPECIAL TO THE STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Clayton Kershaw's legendary baseball career will feature one final ride on the global stage.

Kershaw, the future Hall of Fame pitcher who in September of 2025 announced his retirement from MLB, will pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, USA Baseball announced on Thursday. It will be the first time Kershaw has ever pitched in the WBC. The longtime Dodgers ace committed to play for Team USA in the 2023 WBC, but backed out due to his reported inability to obtain an insurance policy after consulting with MLB, the MLB Player's Association and the Dodgers.

A disappointed Kershaw, who had never prioritized pitching in the WBC to focus more on preparations for upcoming seasons, acknowledged at the time that it was likely his last opportunity to pitch in the event, which typically takes place every few years in March before the start of the MLB season.

Now, in a picture-perfect scenario, Kershaw will finally get his chance to take the mound for Team USA in an epic curtain call for his Hall of Fame career. Here's who he'll be joining on the roster

Team USA World Baseball Classic Roster

Position	Player Name
SP	Tarik Skubal
SP	Paul Skenes
SP	Logan Webb
SP	Joe Ryan
SP	Nolan McLean
SP	Clayton Kershaw
RP	David Bednar
RP	Mason Miller
RP	Gabe Speier
RP	Griffin Jax
RP	Clay Holmes
C	Cal Raleigh
C	Will Smith
1B	Bryce Harper
2B	Brice Turang
SS	Bobby Witt Jr.
SS	Gunnar Henderson
3B	Ernie Clement
OF	Aaron Judge
OF	Pete Crow-Armstrong
OF	Byron Buxton
OF	Corbin Carroll
DH	Kyle Schwarber

The Americans begin World Baseball Classic pool play against Brazil on March 6 at 8 p.m. ET at Daikin Park in Houston.

Kershaw authors memorable end to MLB career

Kershaw in September announced that the 2025 season would be his last in MLB. And Kershaw, who spent all 18 years with the Dodgers, authored an incredible end to his decorated career, becoming just the 20th pitcher to record 3,000 career strikeouts, pitching for the National League while being mic'd up in the All-Star Game and helping the Dodgers win a second straight World Series.

Kershaw's final appearance on a big-league mound won't soon be forgotten, as he entered a marathon Game 3 in the 12th inning with two outs and the bases loaded, looking to keep the game tied. The southpaw went toe-to-toe with the Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes, dramatically inducing an inning-ending groundout as the Dodger Stadium crowd roared.

In 18 seasons in the big leagues, Kershaw has been named to 11 All-Star teams, has won three Cy Young Awards, two World Series titles, an MVP Award and a Gold Glove. He is widely regarded as one of the best pitchers of his generation—and all-time.

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