Dodgers Spring Training: Kershaw Conflicted Following Bullpen Session

Not one to waste time when it comes to working out and honing his craft, Clayton Kershaw was with the first group of pitchers and catchers who reported for a bullpen session Friday morning.

The reigning National League MVP and Cy Young Award winner has already touched on his desire to atone for last October and whether A.J. Ellis needs to be his personal catcher this season, something that inevitably will be an ongoing talking point.

As for his bullpen session, of which he was the last pitcher throwing, Kershaw was far from satisfied with his performance, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:

I’m healthy and feel great, but it was a pretty bad [bullpen session],” said Kershaw. “I hope the next one is better. I was all over the place, but my arm and body feel good.”

To no surprise, Ellis, who caught Kershaw in the session, had a different outlook:

He was really good,” said Ellis. “I think he’s ahead of us and just waiting for us to catch up.”

Aside from it being his first time throwing, subpar results in Spring Training are nothing new for Kershaw. He’s a career 10-10 with a 3.62 ERA in six seasons and regularly has struggled in those starts.

Fortunately for Kershaw, there will be several more bullpen sessions and Spring Training games for him to work on meeting his standards before he presumably takes the mound on Opening Day when the Dodgers host the San Diego Padres.

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