GLENDALE, Ariz. – Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw said he has “no worries or concerns” about the back injury that sidelined him for 2 1/2 months last season.
Kershaw threw a bullpen session Wednesday as Dodgers pitchers and catchers reported to camp. The first official workout is Thursday but several Dodgers pitchers threw off the bullpen mounds on Wednesday.
Kershaw said he had been throwing off a mound once a week since the start of January in preparation for spring training.
“I’ve been doing good,” he said when asked how his back had responded during off-season workouts. “I’m excited to give it a good test here in spring training.”
The notoriously hard-working Kershaw said he made some adjustments to his workout routine as a concession to the mildly herniated disc that put him out of action last season – but only minor ones.
“The routine has been a little different but it’s not drastic changes which is great. I still feel like I’m able to get the work I need,” he said. “I’m just a little more aware of not pushing through stuff. But for the most part, it hasn’t changed.”
Nor have his goals. Kershaw said his goal is to “make every start this year” and he is not concerned beyond that.
“I’m not a big futures guy,” he said. “I just want to pitch. … I’ll do whatever I can to make that next start. I’ll worry about the next years when I need to. If it costs me somewhere down the road, it does. But I’m here to make every start this year. I feel like that’s what I’m supposed to do.”
Kershaw said he gave “serious consideration” to pitching in the World Baseball Classic but decided against joining Team USA.
“It’s an honor and I wanted to do it,” he said of the international competition. “But taking a lot of things into consideration, I just thought it was best for me not to do it.
“It was definitely not a decision I took lightly.”
Contact the writer: bplunkett@scng.com
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