"Super Disappointed" Clayton Kershaw Forced To Pull Out Of World Classic

Los Angeles Dodgers 3-time Cy Young Winner Clayton Kershaw badly wanted to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. So much so, that he was willing to take out his own insurance policy. Unfortunately, it's not going to happen. He simply couldn't secure an insurance policy to cover him for any possible injury.

Clayton Kershaw has removed himself from the World Baseball Classic pic.twitter.com/GbcnfIPaHn

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) February 17, 2023

“It was super disappointing …’’ said Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer. “I’m frustrated. I really wanted to do it.

“We tried a lot of different things. I tried to work it out on my own. Tried to work it out with MLB, the union, the team, everybody. Everybody worked hard to try and make it work.

“Just wasn’t able to.”

Kershaw, the 9-time All-Star and 15-year veteran, has had previous back problems that were ultimately at issue for the insurance company, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The insurance company informed Kershaw and the Dodgers that they would not pay his contract if he were injured in the WBC. 

The soon-to-be 35-year-old said it's extra frustrating because his back is currently fine, and he has no injury problems to speak of.

“It’s definitely surprising,’’ Kershaw said. “I’m 100% healthy. Nothing is wrong with me. I didn’t think there would be issues. …They should make it easy for guys who want to play, play.

“Obviously, if a [MLB] team that doesn’t want you to play (in the Classic) is one thing, but if you have the team’s blessing like I did, they should probably look into that.’’

Kershaw was the ace of the Team USA staff, which has also been deprived of Nestor Cortes of the New York Yankees due to a minor injury. The rotation now still includes Merrill Kelly, Lance Lynn, Adam Wainwright, Miles Mikolas and Nick Martinez.