Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Still Unsure of What the Future Holds for Him

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has three competing pursuits in his upcoming determination about whether or not — and the place — to play a sixteenth season within the massive leagues: well being, effectiveness, and household.

As Dylan Hernandez writes within the Los Angeles Instances, Kershaw is “leaning in the direction of” pitching at the very least yet another yr.

“I maintain the correct to alter my thoughts, however as of at present, I believe that I’ve obtained at the very least yet another run,” he stated.

Kershaw missed the postseason final yr after suffering an elbow injury within the closing weekend of the common season. He was assured the elbow would heal with out surgical procedure, however it was months earlier than he actually felt proper. In reality, he considers the delayed begin to spring coaching due to the lockout a blessing in disguise for him personally. Across the time the lockout ended, he determined to return to the Dodgers, turning away from a suggestion to play for his hometown Texas Rangers.

Kershaw is cautious together with his phrases, by no means truly saying something particular in regards to the Rangers. It’s extra obscure ideas about how something can occur.

“If I used to be wholesome and received the World Sequence, I don’t know what final offseason would have held,” Kershaw stated. “Identical factor goes for this offseason, proper? I nonetheless don’t know.”

Does that imply Kershaw would possibly grasp up his spikes if the Dodgers go on to win one other World Sequence? Or does it imply he would possibly put much less of a precedence on profitable and extra on being near residence, selecting to wrap up his profession inside driving distance of his residence in Dallas? Kershaw isn’t saying. However he undoubtedly is aware of he doesn’t wish to be harm on a regular basis.

“I don’t wish to be harm,” he stated. “It’s only a horrible feeling. You simply really feel ineffective. You are feeling such as you’re in the way in which. I don’t wish to take care of that anymore. So if I felt like I used to be going to get harm on a regular basis, I don’t wish to try this anymore.”

Kershaw has had two injured listing stints this yr, however he has been excellent within the 19 begins round these accidents, posting a 2.39 ERA and an impressive 6.16 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His fastball velocity is down, however his offspeed pitches are as devastating as ever.

Kershaw is just not interested by turning right into a junkballer who sticks round simply to stay round.

“I additionally don’t wish to be mediocre. I wish to be good at what I do. I don’t wish to grasp on simply to pitch.”

So we now have well being, and we now have effectiveness. The ultimate piece of the puzzle is household. Kershaw and his spouse, Ellen, now have 4 kids, the oldest in second grade. Clayton is torn between eager to be residence together with his household and wanting his kids to recollect the expertise of him being among the best pitchers on the planet.

“Cali’s taking part in soccer, taking part in basketball,” Kershaw stated. “Charley’s doing all kinds of enjoyable issues, sort of entering into baseball slightly bit. I don’t wish to miss that stuff, both.”

However the kids are additionally a purpose for him to proceed taking part in past this season.

“I believe the cool half about it, too, is that they’re getting older the place they’re beginning to perceive what this can be a little bit, particularly Charley, getting to return into the clubhouse and stuff,” Kershaw stated. “There’s a part of me that wishes them to know what I did, not simply, ‘Hey, he did have a job in some unspecified time in the future.’”

Because the common season involves an finish, we get nearer and nearer to a crossroads for Kershaw, who may spend subsequent season both again in Dodger Blue, carrying a barely totally different blue in Arlington, or carrying cargo shorts and flip flops to PTA conferences in Dallas.

Dodger followers are hoping for the primary and will abdomen the final. However Kershaw in a distinct uniform is just too arduous to consider.

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