Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Reveals Potential Return Timeline

The future Hall of Famer updated reporters on his status in his first day of spring training.

On Tuesday, Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers reached an agreement on a deal to bring him back for his 17th season with the team. The contract also reportedly has a player option for the 2025 season.

While that contract has not yet been made official, Kershaw was at Camelback Ranch on Thursday to take his physical. He also spoke to reporters for the first time since news of the deal.

Kershaw touched on a ton of topics, including when he could potentially return to the mound this season. He didn't have an exact timeline.

“Honestly I think summer is about as good as I can do,” Kershaw said. “It’s probably not early summer. … I hate saying a timetable because if I go below it or beyond it, it’s not good. But I would say July-ish, August-ish. Somewhere in there. I don’t know.”

Via Orange County Register

Kershaw did say he's on week two of his throwing program, so it sounds like he's on track with the schedule he was hoping to be on at this point in the offseason.

However, it makes sense that at this stage of the offseason, he can't provide an exact timeline for when he'll return.

On the bright side, Kershaw did provide a general idea — "July-ish, August-ish" — of when Dodger fans should expect to see him back on the mound. The exact return date depends on how he rehab goes over the next handful of months.

Kershaw also revealed that he felt the weight of the decision to continue pitching in 2024.

Kershaw said the decision to have surgery or retire was really the first big decision in his 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 ..." 1/2

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 8, 2024

"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." 2/2

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 8, 2024