Alden Gonzalez
Multiple Authors
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have made no secret about their need to maintain Clayton Kershaw concerned with the crew in some capability, and now they’re formally bringing him on as a special assistant.
Speaking Friday forward of the Dodgers’ ring ceremony, Kershaw described the function as fluid, although it will not contain teaching.
“I’ll be involved somehow,” he mentioned. “Probably not physically here in L.A., but definitely I’m sure I’ll watch games. I still want to be a part of the Dodgers, so if I can help in some small piece, I will.”
Kershaw made his broadcasting debut for NBC throughout Thursday’s Opening Day, seated subsequent to the Dodgers’ third-base dugout and offering insights all through their 8-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He remained in L.A. in a single day to obtain his third championship ring the next day, a becoming memento to mark the finality of his 18-year profession.
He’ll savor that one slightly longer.
“I know they’ve got to move on to this season, but I don’t have to,” Kershaw mentioned. “I’m just going to keep relishing it.”
Kershaw, 38, introduced his determination to retire within the late levels of the 2025 season, throughout which he went 11-2 with a 3.39 ERA in 22 begins earlier than shifting right into a low-leverage bullpen function for the playoffs. In the eleventh inning of Game 7 of the World Series, Kershaw was warming as much as doubtlessly verify in, blissfully unaware that Mookie Betts had began the double play that made the Dodgers back-to-back champions.
Kershaw then agreed to hitch Team USA within the World Baseball Classic as an emergency reliever, fulfilling a long-held need to play within the worldwide event. His broadcasting debut adopted shortly thereafter.
Because of that, he mentioned, “I don’t feel like retirement’s really, really started yet.”
He’ll return to his house in Dallas this weekend, with no broadcast duties scheduled till August. He believes it would hit him then.
“I don’t miss the game at all,” Kershaw mentioned. “I just miss the people. I love watching. I just know I can’t play it anymore. I’m at peace with that. I miss this. I miss the stadium. I wouldn’t say it’s hard to be here. But you remember what you’re missing, which is challenging for sure.”
