It was quick and it was subtle. And unless you turned on the Fox pregame show half an hour before Game-2 of the National League Championship Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on Monday afternoon, you missed it.

For those who did miss it, Hall of Famer, 10-time All-Star, and current Fox Sports commentator David Ortiz (aka Big Papi) asked pregame guest Clayton Kershaw:

“Not being able to perform in these playoffs, how excited… how mentally you feel?”

You could hear the gasps and cheers that echoed throughout Southern California when the 36-year-old Dallas, TX native, fellow 10-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, five-time ERA titleholder, former MLB MVP, former MLB Player of the Year, and future Hall of Famer answered:

“Mentally I feel great, you know, and I had shoulder surgery last off season and my shoulder and elbow, my arm feels great. Obviously, I had some tough luck with my foot this year, but I want to make use of this surgery, you know. I don’t want to have surgery and then shut it down, so, you know, I’m gonna come back next year and give it a go, and, you know, see how it goes.”

I heard you gasp and cheer.

Needless to say, this is THE news that every Dodger fan on the planet has been waiting for – including their newest fan, Frankie Letaconnoux, my three-month-old granddaughter.

Play Ball!

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