Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw says he won’t pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, calling the situation “super disappointing.”
"Probably my last chance to do it so I really wanted to do it but it just didn’t work out for various reasons"Kershaw told reporters Friday from Dodgers spring training camp. “Disappointing, but okay. I’ll be ready for the season. I’ll be ready to go.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner did not specify the reasons that would prevent him from participating.
“There were some factors that made it difficult for me to play,” Kershaw said. “I tried to figure it out on my own, I tried to figure it out with the MLB, the union, the team. They all worked hard to try to make it work. He just wasn’t able to do it.”
Kershaw, who turns 35 on March 19, added that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has been helpful throughout the process.
“Obviously, it’s not any team’s first choice to let their guy play for someone else, but they did a great job,” Kershaw said.
Kershaw signed a one-year, $20 million contract to return to the Dodgers this season. He went 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA in 22 starts and spent two seasons on the disabled list last season.