95TH MLB ALL-STAR GAME

July 15, 2025

Clayton Kershaw

Truist Park

National League

Press Conference

CLAYTON KERSHAW: The whole family here, getting to see me pitch in the All-Star Game again. I didn't think it was going to happen. So it was pretty cool.

Q. (No microphone.)

CLAYTON KERSHAW: Yeah, Tucker made an awesome play in left field. Felt great on that first pitch. It was fun. Two batters is not a bad gig if you do it right. It's not fun, I guess, if you don't get them out. It was fun tonight.

Q. Was that part of you that was hesitant to come? Did it become more meaningful once you went through the week?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: I think so. I think both. I think, yeah, my initial response was just, you know, you don't ever want to take somebody's spot or you don't ever want to be like a sideshow. You just want to be a part of it if you deserve it.

And once I kind of understood that I wasn't taking anybody's spot and that it was just whatever they call, legend, whatever, it was a little uncomfortable. But now that I'm done with it, it was awesome. I'm so glad I got to come and share with family and kiddos and all the stuff. It was a great thing.

And, you know, Doc even let me say a couple things during the team meeting, which was awesome. Things that I would never volunteer for, but I also realize that the opportunity is there, and so I don't want to pass that stuff up. So I think all of it was pretty cool.

Q. When you have a moment like this, do you kind of think about the first All-Star Game you played?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: Not really. But, yeah, I remember -- I do remember the first one pretty well, just standing in the outfield with Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay and all these guys that I looked up to and really respected and got to just kind of be a fly on the wall, listening to them talk. So that was cool.

And now to kind of be on the other end of it is weird. It happens fast. But at the same time, this clubhouse is awesome. There's a lot of great veteran guys in there. Even the young guys too. Everybody was awesome. It was fun.

Q. What was the gist of your message?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: I just, I don't even know, honestly. I hope I didn't sound too bad. But just, I think, everything that everybody knows. The All-Star Game, it can be hard at times for the players. It's a lot of travel. It's a lot of stress, chaos, family, all the stuff, but it's meaningful. It's impactful for the game. It's important for the game.

We have the best All-Star Game of any sport. We do have the best product. So to be here, to realize your responsibility in the sport is important. And we have Shohei here. We have Aaron Judge here. We have all these guys that represent the game really, really well so we get to showcase that and be part of that is important.

I just said I was super honored to be a part of it. Thanks for letting me be here, really.

Q. (No microphone.)

CLAYTON KERSHAW: No. I'm getting blown up by former teammates saying, wow, you've changed so much. And they're right. I mean, I don't think I would have ever done that. It was actually kind of fun. Never could do it in a regular season game. But for a few batters, it was pretty fun.

Q. How does being mic'd up for the All-Star Game compare to the pressures of pitching in a World Series?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: It's different. Not in the same stratosphere, but it's just weird. Yeah, I mean, it's just weird having to kind of talk through it. But it was fun. I mean, I enjoyed it. It was fun.

Q. Beforehand, did you rehearse maybe anything that you wanted to say, or you just let it all ad lib?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: No. I honestly didn't know how I was going to feel. I didn't know if I was breathing too hard to talk. It's a long run and all that. But, yeah, just kind of winged it.

Q. Clayton, a couple minutes ago, Jason Adam spoke super glowingly about being able to follow you. Did you have a chance to talk with him or anything about the moment? He was just so impressed with just being able to have that part.

CLAYTON KERSHAW: He's awesome. I got to know him a little bit playing with the Padres, and he just seems like a great dude. He's got four kids as well so we can kind of relate to that, what that's like. And he just, yeah, he was super fun to talk to, and I respect what he does on the mound. He's really impressive out there.

I know we never get many hits off him. He's really tough. But, yeah, he was awesome to talk to.

Q. Clayton, when you said to the Fox guys this might be the last hitter I ever face, was that kind of a reflective moment for you?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: I don't think I said that.

Q. You didn't say that?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: I mean, I didn't --

Q. I guess I thought you meant in an All-Star Game.

CLAYTON KERSHAW: I think I just meant tonight. I realized I was just getting two batters. So I'm not that reflective.

Q. Let me ask it another way. There's only been three pitchers who have appeared in more All-Star games than you. What does that mean to you?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: I don't know. I'm old. Been around a while, I guess. It's a very awesome, special thing to get to come to All-Star games. So I remember the first one, how special that was, and I don't think a lot's changed for me over the years to get to come to these things. So I don't take that for granted. I think it's really awesome. It very well -- I mean, I shouldn't be here anyway so it's very possible this could be my last one.

I can't say it another way. It was a very awesome night. Special.

Q. Clayton, Paul Skenes before this said that he (no microphone). What were those interactions like, and what do you think about him as a pitcher?

CLAYTON KERSHAW: As a pitcher, he's incredible. A bulldog out there, so competitive, just coming after the guys, not fazed by anything. I said it about Skubal as well. Both of those guys have been super impressive to watch.

To get to talk to Paul this week has been fun. He's got such a regimented routine you can tell, you know, just even the two days we were here. And you don't realize how big he is too. Like if there's ever a guy that can throw that hard and stay healthy and good for a long time, like I would bet on him, you know. It's super impressive.

And so I didn't have a whole lot to tell him. We talked a little bit about pitch grips and different things like that. But you can tell he wants to be good. He wants to be great. He wants to be good for a long time. So you've got to respect that. It's pretty cool.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.

CLAYTON KERSHAW: Thanks.