Clayton Kershaw was among the Los Angeles Dodgers players who reported to Camelback Ranch early due to his scheduled participation in the World Baseball Classic.
However, Kershaw was unable to secure the required insurance needed to play for Team USA and was forced to sit out of the international tournament. That placed him a bit ahead of schedule for where he would normally be, so the Dodgers gave the left-hander a few days to take a “step back.”
After throttling down, Kershaw resumed throwing on Saturday with a bullpen session and came out of it well.
“He said he felt good, and it was a really good ‘pen,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think right now he’s going to be on his five-day routine as far as ‘pens, sides and throwing. Really good.”
Despite the unusual process of ramping up and then slowing down, Roberts believes Kershaw is “right where he needs to be.”
“I think all that stuff as far as the prep mentally and physically, we took a few days to kind of reset,” the skipper added. “So I think he’s right where we would have hoped.”
Kershaw asserted he arrived at Camelback Ranch healthy, but with his long injury history, the Dodgers will likely still be cautious moving forward. The 34-year-old is not scheduled to throw a bullpen or in a game on Monday or Tuesday, and it remains unclear when Kershaw will make his Cactus League debut.
Kershaw finished the 2022 season going 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 22 starts.
Clayton Kershaw hosting 3rd annual “Camp Kersh: Pitching for Purpose”
Kershaw is hosting the third annual “Camp Kersh: Pitching For Purpose” at 4 p.m. PT on Monday, with registration free and open to players of all ages and skill levels. Details of the virtual event and registration can be completed at CampKersh.com.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Kershaw’s Challenge, which was established by Clayton and Ellen Kershaw in 2011. Beneficiaries of the foundation are Behind Every Door and Shoes that Fit in Dallas, Los Angeles Dream Center, Shoes That Fit, Arise Africa and Both Ends Believing in Zambia, and International Justice Mission and Both Ends Believing in the Dominican Republic.
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