It is news that most baseball fans – and every Dodgers fan – have been waiting five months to hear. On Friday, March 10, 2023, 34-year-old future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw will return to a baseball mound in an actual MLB game, even if only a Spring Training game.

“Talking to (Dodgers pitching coach) Mark (Prior), the plan is four innings,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told SportsNet LA’s Kirsten Watson, following his team’s 1-0 Cactus League loss to the Oakland A’s on Thursday afternoon. “Usually, he’s out there making his debut a lot sooner, so, I think we’re all excited. But he’s in a good spot, and all of his work, the way he feels, really good.”

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As Dodgers fan knows, the Dallas, TX native and Dodgers first round draft pick in 2006 out of Highland Park High School in Dallas has a injury history of back and shoulder issues. He was placed on the 15-day Injured List late last season for “lower back pain,” for which he received an epidural on August 5, 2022. He returned to action on October 5, 2022, against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium and was absolutely Kershaw-like, allowing only one run and one hit, while walking one walk and striking out nine in his 5.0 innings of work, to collect his 12th win of the season (against only three losses) and the Dodgers historic 111th win of the season. He finished the 2022 regular season with a remarkable MLB-best 2.48 ERA.

Unfortunately, Kershaw suffered the loss in Game-2 of the 2022 National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on October 12 and hasn’t pitched in a game – Spring Training or otherwise – since.

Needless to say, and even though it is only a Spring Training game, it will be of monumental importance for Kershaw, Roberts, Prior, and every baseball and Dodgers fan on the planet.

Play Ball!

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