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Clayton Kershaw returns to Dodger Stadium as he eases into retirement

March 28, 2026

LOS ANGELES — Retirement hasn’t “really started yet” for Clayton Kershaw.

The future Hall of Famer finished his career with the Dodgers’ postseason run last fall but then agreed to participate in the World Baseball Classic with Team USA this spring. On Opening Day on Thursday, he was suited up for the NBC broadcast, serving as a sideline commentator from a seat just outside the Dodgers’ dugout.

“I would say it’s pretty part-time, because I’ve only got one more game in August. So you won’t see me too much on TV,” Kershaw said Friday, back at the stadium to receive his 2025 World Series championship ring. “But it was fun to do last night, for sure.

“It’s just talking baseball. So if people want to hear me talk about baseball, I can do that all day. I love baseball.”

He loves it – but he doesn’t miss it yet. He said he has “no interest in playing” anymore.

“I don’t miss the game at all. I just miss the people,” he said. “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.”

After years of fighting through injuries and rehabbing from surgeries in order to continue his career, Kershaw definitely knows what he likes most about retirement so far.

“There’s a freedom with retirement,” he said. “If you don’t want to work out, you don’t have to. If your back hurts, it doesn’t matter. If your arm hurts, it doesn’t matter. You get to see a lot more stuff, be around for everything. So there’s a lot of great parts. It doesn’t take away from how special playing this game is. But there’s a lot of really awesome parts about being home.”

Kershaw’s fifth child was born over the winter, making for a hectic home life. But he does expect to continue his connection with the Dodgers in an undefined special assistant role.

“I think I’ll be involved somehow,” he said. “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.”

MILLER DOWN

Bobby Miller’s future looked bright when he was called up to the Dodgers in 2023 and went 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts. His career trajectory since then has not matched that forecast.

The former first-round draft pick regressed badly in 2024, lost his spot in the major-league rotation and spent nearly all of last season in Triple-A. This spring, he was going to convert from starting to relief but started having shoulder pain when he tried to increase his throwing sessions. Miller had no realistic chance of making the Dodgers’ roster but was placed on the 60-day injured list instead. It is not Miller’s first bout with shoulder trouble.

“I think he’s just slowed down to the point where we need to be very mindful of the build-up,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “It’s something that obviously he’s dealt with in the past, so making sure we do it right on the front end is really important. We don’t want to get into a position where we try to push too soon and have something worse happen.”

Gomes would not specify what the root of Miller’s shoulder pain is and said the Dodgers “don’t believe so at the moment” regarding the possibility of surgery.

“We’ve got to get him into a build-up stage and then see where we’re at,” Gomes said.

MAKING PROGRESS

Right-hander Brock Stewart (shoulder surgery) faced hitters for the first time this spring, throwing a simulated inning of live batting practice to Alex Call and Dalton Rushing on Friday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Evan Phillips (Tommy John surgery) and Blake Snell (shoulder soreness) each threw bullpen sessions Friday. Phillips should start facing hitters soon, but he will be leaving the team soon. His wife is due to give birth to their second child in early April.

ALSO

The Dodgers traded minor-league outfielder Damon Keith to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. Keith, 25, was an 18th-round draft pick out of Cal Baptist in 2021. He spent the past two seasons with Double-A Tulsa.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks (LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, 9-9, 5.02 ERA in 2025) at Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 4-3, 3.19 ERA in 2025), Saturday, 6:10 p.m., Dodger Stadium, SportsNet LA, 570 AM

Orange County Register

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Clayton Kershaw returns to Dodger Stadium as he eases into retirement

MILLER DOWN

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