The future Hall of Famer does his first interview since his November shoulder surgery, saying he is “excited” to pitch again next season but gives no indication if he will re-sign with the Dodgers.
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw said he’s “doing really well” five weeks out from shoulder surgery and is “excited” about pitching again next season.
Kershaw’s first remarks since announcing the surgery on his Instagram account came during an interview with David Vassegh on 570 AM’s “Dodger Talk” on Wednesday night.
But Kershaw gave no definitive answer about whether he will re-sign with the Dodgers. He said he and his wife, Ellen, are still “in that process” of deciding where and when to sign his next contract. The 35-year-old left-hander is currently a free agent after signing one-year contracts each of the past two seasons.
“I’m excited to get back after the surgery and throw a ball and have it not hurt,” Kershaw said.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner said it took a few weeks after the abrupt end to the Dodgers’ season before he decided to have surgery on his shoulder so that he could continue his career.
“Obviously, my shoulder wasn’t feeling great and … (I) kind of came to the conclusion that if I wanted to play again, I would need to get my shoulder fixed,” Kershaw said. “That was hard. That took a few weeks to really talk about and think through and pray through. Ellen and I, it was finally, ‘You know what? I’m not done and at the same time I don’t want my shoulder to hurt anymore.’”
He also acknowledged that he didn’t want his career to end with his worst performance. In Game 1 of the Dodgers’ National League Division Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he retired just one of eight batters faced, allowing six runs.
“I think the competitor in me doesn’t want it to end the way it did,” he said. “I want to win. I want to win another World Series. I think that all played into it.”
Kershaw said his arm was in a sling for only three days after the surgery and he spent the first night at the home of Dr. Neal ElAttrache who performed the procedure. Five weeks later, Kershaw said he is doing “movement stuff” and strengthening exercises – but throwing a football right-handed for his kids.
“I think I’m doing really well,” Kershaw said. “I don’t have a lot to compare it to. I’ve never had surgery before, but I really do feel great, all things considered.”
Kershaw said he is confident he will pitch at some point next summer (as he said in his Instagram post).
“I feel good about that,” he said.
Kershaw remarked on the Dodgers’ signing of Shohei Ohtani as well, calling it “great for the Dodgers.”
“It’s just so much money, isn’t it?” Kershaw said. “This is crazy. But I think he is a unique, unique talent. I don’t think there’s anybody like him and once he starts pitching again … everybody wants to watch it. You know – I want to watch it.”
