Kershaw Retires Again After Team USA Stint

Legendary pitcher Clayton Kershaw ends his career after a brief return to play for the U.S. national team in the World Baseball Classic.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:35am

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Clayton Kershaw, the future Hall of Fame pitcher, has retired from baseball again after a brief stint with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Kershaw, who previously retired after winning the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, said this experience with the national team was 'a fun way to end it' and that he's 'glad I did it.' He will now join NBC Sports' pregame coverage.

Why it matters

Kershaw's retirement marks the end of an era for one of the greatest pitchers of his generation. His decision to briefly return to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic provided a unique opportunity for him to be around the next generation of baseball stars and experience the intense atmosphere of international competition one more time before hanging up his cleats for good.

The details

Kershaw did not actually appear in any games for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic, but he said the experience of being around the team and getting to know the 'faces of the game moving forward' was 'a blessing.' He will be replaced on the roster by Twins pitcher Joe Ryan ahead of the semifinals. Kershaw's final appearance on a major league mound came in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, when he recorded a key out in relief to help the Dodgers win the championship.

  • Kershaw announced his retirement on March 14, 2026 after Team USA's quarterfinal win over Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
  • Kershaw's final MLB appearance was in Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, when he recorded a key out in relief to help the Dodgers win the championship.

The players

Clayton Kershaw

A future Hall of Fame pitcher who played 18 seasons in MLB, all with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He won an MVP, 3 Cy Young Awards, and 5 ERA titles, and was an 11-time All-Star.

Joe Ryan

A right-handed pitcher for the Minnesota Twins who will replace Kershaw on the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

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What they’re saying

“I'm definitely glad I did it. Being around this group is a fun way to end it, honestly. I got to know some of these guys that are kind of the faces of the game moving forward, and I got to meet them and watch them up close. It's been a blessing.”

— Clayton Kershaw

“It's hard to describe. Like in a 100 million years, I never would have thought that it would be that perfect of an ending. Baseball's not easy, and we've had a lot of ups and downs in this thing. But to be able to go out like that and for us to end up winning that game and end up winning the World Series, I mean, to get to run on that field one last time with my teammates, you really can't script it. I'm just so grateful and thankful for the time that it was and how it happened.”

— Clayton Kershaw

What’s next

Kershaw will join NBC Sports' pregame coverage starting this year after retiring from playing.

The takeaway

Kershaw's brief return to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic provided a fitting end to the career of one of the greatest pitchers of his era, allowing him to experience the intensity of international competition one more time before transitioning to the next phase of his career in broadcasting.