Clayton Kershaw is Latest Pitcher to Join Driveline Training Trend
By Brady Williams
After a disappointing end to the 2019 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are doing everything they can to make it back to the playoffs and go on a deep run next fall.
Not one to ignore a new training opportunity, it seems Clayton Kershaw is joining his teammates Kenley Jansen and Alex Wood in joining Driveline Baseball, The Athletic’s Pedro Moura reports.
You’ve heard that the Dodgers’ Kenley Jansen and Alex Wood went to Driveline this offseason. Turns out Clayton Kershaw did too. https://t.co/GE2jKP4aMr
— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) February 25, 2020
The organization is one of the many new technology and analytics-driven groups that is sweeping Major League Baseball. Driveline uses a variety of motion-tracking technology and slow-motion cameras to analyze a player’s movements and tendencies in order to change their style and improve their performance.
Knowing this, Kershaw is looking to see if it can help him out this campaign and beyond.
A quick look at how we use command balls with our athletes.https://t.co/Qre6djsxFg pic.twitter.com/ryLJW5snxu
— Driveline Baseball (@DrivelineBB) February 24, 2020
In the latest chapter of Kershaw’s lengthy story of playoff heartbreaks, he gave up a 3-1 Game 5 NLDS lead in the eighth inning when he allowed consecutive home runs by Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto. It was the turning point in that game. As we all know by now, the Nationals came back to win the series and went on to win it all.
With a new, advanced training regimen, it looks as though Kershaw is exhausting every option to try and prevent another disappointing loss from coming his way. Only time will tell if it makes a difference.