Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw won’t take part in WBC

PHOENIX — Clayton Kershaw will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic after all.

The future Hall of Fame lefthander made the announcement Friday at Dodgers spring training, calling the development “super disappointing” after spending the last three months preparing for the event.

Although Kershaw declined to provide specific reasons for his inability to participate, people with knowledge of the situation who were unauthorized to speak publicly said the pitcher had a problem finalizing insurance coverage required for the event. His back-injury history was a significant factor, the people said.

“We tried a lot of different things, all sides, really tried to make it work,” Kershaw explained while standing in front of his locker at the team’s Camelback Ranch complex. “Nothing is wrong with me. It just didn’t work out. I really wanted to do it.”

Kershaw’s announcement came a day after Team USA general manager Tony Reagins told The Los Angeles Times that the lefthander, who has never played for the U.S. before in the international competition, was facing undisclosed “challenges” to get cleared for the event.

Earlier this week, Kershaw also alluded to “complications” that had left his status for the tournament suddenly unclear.

Although Kershaw wanted to play in the event, and had gotten a go-ahead from Dodgers brass to do so, his insurance problem proved unresolvable.

Insurance issues have kept players out of other iterations of the WBC, and can become especially complicated for players such as Kershaw, who have a history of injury problems.