Clayton Kershaw Says This Offseason Was One of the Biggest Decisions of His Life

Clayton Kershaw addressed the media at Camelback Ranch on Thursday.

Clayton Kershaw was faced with a tough question during the offseason. Retire or have surgery. 

He decided he wasn't done pitching and opted for surgery to repair the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his pitching shoulder. 

The decision didn't come easy for him, as he has never had to make decisions like this in his entire life.

“I really never made a big decision in my life. I got drafted by the Dodgers. I married the same girl from high school. I didn’t have many decisions to make along the way. This was really kind of the first offseason where I had some choices to make and it wasn’t easy. But I feel really good about it now. Thankful I got the surgery. Thankful I’m back here. I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Clayton Kershaw via O.C. Register

Kershaw's lone playoff start was ugly, and the Dodgers' season ended abruptly at the hands of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kershaw didn't want his career to end that way.

“I went home and the season, the way it ended especially for our team and for me personally, wasn’t fun at all. A lot of doubts, a lot of different things and just really had to sit back on, if I wanted to do this it became pretty evident that I had to fix it and get surgery.“

Clayton Kershaw via O.C. Register

The surgery happened in November, and Kershaw is on track to come back in late summer. He did report to Spring Training with the other pitchers on Thursday.

There isn't a definitive timeline on his return, but he will be back for his 17th season with the Dodgers at some point this season.