The Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing for life without longtime ace Clayton Kershaw, who retired after the team won its second consecutive World Series title in 2025.
Kershaw established himself as one of the greatest pitchers of all time in his 18 seasons with the Dodgers and is a surefire Hall of Famer someday.
While many players were happy to see Kershaw go out on his own terms, they will still miss having the left-hander around. Freddie Freeman said it will take some time to adjust to not seeing Kershaw in the Dodgers’ clubhouse this year.
“I just did TV, and they showed my walk-off home run, and they showed Kersh running on the field like a five-year-old looking for candy, and I’m going to miss it,” Freeman began. “Everyone talks about first ballot Hall of Fame pitcher, what he meant to this organization, but the day in and day out, inside that clubhouse, what we get to see and have with him, and the joy he brings, him singing shirtless in the weight room at the top of his lungs, those are the things that you’ll miss more.
“For me, it’s going to be hard. It’s like when I first got here after one year and JT wasn’t here anymore. It’s weird seeing Dodger legends not walk around the clubhouse anymore. What he meant to this organization, the game of baseball.
“It is pretty cool that he’s going to pitch for Team USA, so I’m looking forward to watching him pitch, but it’s definitely going to be weird not having number 22 walking around. But we’ll see him here at the ring ceremony.”
As Freeman noted, Kershaw will pitch at least one more time in a competitive setting, as he was included on Team USA’s roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
It marks the first time Kershaw will participate in the international tournament. He planned to play in the 2023 WBC but had to back out because he was not able to secure an insurance policy.
Kershaw was extended the opportunity to pitch for Team USA this year by manager Mark DeRosa and felt it was too good to pass up.
Clayton Kershaw nearing deal to join NBC as studio analyst
It has been widely speculated that Kershaw will look to begin a broadcast career, and recent reports suggest he is nearing a deal with NBCUniversal to become a studio analyst for their MLB coverage this season.
NBC’s first MLB broadcast will be an Opening Day matchup between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Dodgers on Thursday, March 26. If Kershaw finalizes a deal with the network, he could make his broadcast debut at the stadium he called home for nearly two decades.
Kershaw already figured to be present at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day to celebrate the team’s 2025 World Series championship.
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