The Los Angeles Dodgers began their 2022 Spring Training schedule on Friday and played to a 3-3 tie with the Milwaukee Brewers at Camelback Ranch.
Clayton Kershaw received the start despite Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously indicating it would be Beau Burrows taking the mound. The left-hander had some of the usual rust that’s to be expected with the first outing of Cactus League play.
Kershaw managed to get ahead in counts but didn’t quite have enough polish on his pitches to put batters away. He wound up being charged for one run over 1.1 innings of work that saw him retire four of five batters faced, and throw 21 pitches.
Kershaw wasn’t overly pleased with his Spring Training debut but will use it as starting point for how he can improve going forward, via Juan Toribio of MLB.com:
“It wasn’t great, honestly. But the first one — just make sure everything is working right, you feel good, kind of get the adrenaline of the fans as best you can,” Kershaw said. “Now I know what I need to work on. It’s a good stepping stone.”
Kershaw has spoken extensively about his need to ramp up his workload prior to the start of the regular season. He presumably will be stretched out to two innings in his next Spring Training start.
Kershaw conceivably could make a normal turn in the rotation during Cactus League play and start Opening Day for the Dodgers on an extra day of rest. However, the team has not yet committed to any sort of outline.
Friedman: Re-signing Kershaw was Dodgers’ top ‘priority’
Kershaw was not among the free agents to sign before the MLB lockout, but his decision ultimately boiled down to staying with the Dodgers or joining his hometown Texas Rangers.
When a new collective bargaining agreement was ratified, the Dodgers and Kershaw quickly came to terms on a one-year contract worth $17 million.
“I think what Kersh has meant to this organization and city of Los Angeles goes without talking about. I think going into the offseason for us, it was the No. 1 priority,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman explained of re-signing the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
“Keeping Kersh in Dodger Blue was our biggest priority coming in. Through the conversations, felt confident but not knowing for sure. And then post-lockout, he was the first phone call I made and we worked quickly to get it done.”
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