When the rosters for the upcoming World Baseball Classic were announced, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was one of the pitchers on the United States team. Now, though, his participation in the event is more cloudy.
Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times quoted Team USA general manager Tony Reagins, who said that “there are some challenges in getting Clayton cleared.”
He also quoted Kershaw, who expressed a similar sentiment when asked if he’d be at the team’s first workout ahead of the tournament in Scottsdale on March 7.
“There’s some complications right now,” Kershaw said, per Harris. “Still working through some of that stuff now. I don’t have any finite answers. But assuming I’m on the team, I’ll be there when everybody else is. That’s all I really have on that one.”
So what’s the issue? Harris noted that “The most common hold-up is the need to secure insurance coverage for players — particularly those with a history of injuries such as Kershaw, who last season missed two months because of back problems and in 2021 nearly needed Tommy John surgery for an elbow ailment.”
That detail concerned a lot of fans.
As the story indicates. Insurance issues are usually the biggest hurdle/complication, but there are no details on Kershaw's exact "complication." https://t.co/VjjMocCiXB
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) February 17, 2023
Kershaw might not be able to participate due to insurance reasons? This feels like a joke, but I expect nothing less from MLB at this point. https://t.co/pVNX70DGSM pic.twitter.com/uJKx2T13SR
— Randi (@randi9320) February 17, 2023
This had better not be shorthand for insurance won't cover him because he is hurt… https://t.co/hHJNbq8602
— Allison Levin (she/her) (@ConsultSNAPS) February 17, 2023
As an honest USA fan Kershaw should not go to the WBC https://t.co/uI1YBn5t92
— ⭐️ (@BoltUpDerwin) February 17, 2023
While the Dodgers are still expecting Kershaw to pitch in the event, there is a significant risk. Kershaw has not made 30 starts in a season since 2015. While he’s remained a top-tier pitcher when healthy, every subsequent season (with the exception of 2020’s COVID-19 shortened campaign) has been marred by some sort of injury. Kershaw will also be 35 in March. So, expecting him to become more durable as he gets deeper into his 30s is also not realistic.
Starting pitching is definitely a concern for the American team going into the WBC. If Kershaw is out, it’s even more of a question. But given his injuries, skipping the World Baseball Classic and easing more into spring training might be a blessing in disguise.
[Los Angeles Times, Jack Harris on Twitter]
