The United States national team will have a major absence in its pitching staff for the decisive stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
The legendary pitcher Clayton Kershaw will leave the team’s roster after the quarter-final phase, amid adjustments being made by Mark DeRosa‘s side to face the knockout matches.
A move planned within the team’s plan
Kershaw’s departure is part of a strategy planned by the U.S. coaching staff to reorganize its pitching staff in the final rounds of the tournament.
According to reports, the plan is for the pitcher to be replaced by starter Joe Ryan on the roster if the team advances beyond the quarterfinals.
Ryan, currently a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, could even be one of the starters for the championship finals.
A ‘last dance’ for a legend
Kershaw’s presence at the World Baseball Classic had been special from the start. The Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander decided to participate in the tournament even after announcing his retirement from Major League Baseball after the 2025 season
The 37-year-old pitcher accepted the invitation from the U.S. team to live what many considered a “last dance” with the national team, in what was his first participation in the World Baseball Classic.
During his MLB career, Kershaw established himself as one of the best pitchers of his generation, accumulating:
- 3 Cy Young Awards
- 1 MVP award
- 11-time All-Star
- over 3,000 strikeouts in Major League Baseball
United States adjusts its pitching
Kershaw’s withdrawal comes amid several moves in the United States pitching staff.
The team also announced changes with other pitchers to strengthen the bullpen before facing Canada in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The coaching staff’s idea is to have fresh and specialized arms for the decisive games, where each game is a knockout game.
A tournament full of roster adjustments
Modifications to teams are not uncommon in the World Baseball Classic, as the regulations allow roster changes during the tournament, especially in pitching, to accommodate the workload and needs of each team.
In the case of the United States, the goal is to have the best possible staff for the final stretch of the championship.
Although his participation will be brief, Kershaw’s presence in the 2026 World Baseball Classic was already a special moment for fans, who were able to see one of baseball’s great legends wear the United States uniform once again.
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