Kershaw exits U.S. team after quarterfinals, concluding his baseball career; Twins starter Ryan joins as replacement.

The U.S. team, having narrowly escaped elimination in the quarterfinals, is now proceeding with heightened vigilance. Manager Mark DeRosa formally declared today that following tomorrow's quarterfinal match, retired Dodgers iconic lefty Clayton Kershaw will be taken off the official roster, with Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan stepping in as his substitute.

Kershaw, 37, announced last September that he would retire from MLB after the season, yet months later a surprising report emerged stating he would represent the U.S. team in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. However, through the first four games, although he warmed up in the bullpen, this legendary left-hander has not yet pitched.

With Italy defeating Mexico, the U.S. team narrowly advanced to the next round and will compete against Canada on Saturday for a spot in the semifinals. Since Kershaw will officially leave the team after that game, it means he still has the opportunity to pitch against Canada, completing his farewell performance for the national team.

Once the game concludes, Kershaw's spot will be taken over by Twins starter Ryan. If the U.S. team advances all the way to the championship game, Ryan could even be entrusted with a starting role.

Kershaw is regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of his era. Although injuries affected his availability in his later career, he maintained considerable dominance. In the 2025 season with the Dodgers, he pitched 112.2 innings with an ERA of 3.36; despite a decline in strikeout rate and an increase in walks, he still demonstrated veteran value. However, in the postseason, the Dodgers gradually reduced their reliance on him—last year across 17 playoff games, he appeared only twice. While his performance in the NL Division Series against the Phillies was suboptimal (2 innings, 4 runs allowed), in Game 3 of the World Series, an 18-inning marathon, he successfully navigated a bases-loaded crisis, contributing significantly to the team's eventual championship victory.

As the Dodgers once again lifted the World Series trophy—Kershaw's third career title—he subsequently announced his official retirement. Although his expressed intention to participate in January drew public attention, he also clearly stated that he has no plans to return to pitch in MLB this year.

On the other hand, 29-year-old Ryan was originally part of the U.S. team's preliminary roster but temporarily withdrew due to back discomfort early in spring training. Now he will join the active roster as a replacement, indicating he has fully recovered and is ready to compete for the national team. Ryan has shown steady performance over five seasons with the Twins, accumulating 641.1 innings pitched, 719 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.79, and is viewed as a key potential contributor for the U.S. squad.