Clayton Kershaw, the 'Ace of Blue Blood,' truly came to enjoy Japan.

The Dodgers confirmed their opening day 26-man roster ahead of the Tokyo opening series against the Chicago Cubs, which will be held at Tokyo Dome on the 18th. With the confirmation of the roster, the Dodgers placed Kershaw on the injured list on the 15th.

Kershaw, who made his debut with the Dodgers in 2008 and has been reigning as the franchise ace, has recorded 432 games (2742⅔ innings), 212 wins, 94 losses, an earned run average of 2.50, and 2968 strikeouts. He has won the Cy Young Award three times and the MVP once, and has been selected for the All-Star Game 10 times.

Kershaw is extending his playing career with a one-year contract. He signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract with the Dodgers after the end of last season. He is now playing his 18th season with the Dodgers.

However, he underwent surgery on his left knee and left big toe in November of last year and is currently in rehabilitation. He is scheduled to return in June. Therefore, he is naturally excluded from the Tokyo opening series roster. Nevertheless, Kershaw brought his wife and four children to the Tokyo series during his rehabilitation. Kershaw, who was not included in the roster, personally covered all expenses of the trip. According to USA Today, he noted, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There is nothing that can replace this trip. I am very excited."

However, Kershaw did not join the Dodgers during last year's opening series in Seoul. At that time, he was also in rehabilitation after shoulder surgery but stayed in the U.S. However, he might have heard about the fantastic experiences shared by his teammates in Seoul last year. This time, Kershaw showed enthusiasm by participating in the Tokyo trip at his own expense.

And Kershaw is enjoying Japan. Spending time in Tokyo, the Kershaw family traveled to Kyoto by Shinkansen and enjoyed some sightseeing. The Kershaw family, shared via the Dodgers' social media, visited the tourist attractions of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka in Kyoto and rode a rickshaw in the bamboo grove of Arashiyama, smiling widely. After enjoying various places in Kyoto, Kershaw and his family finally expressed, "We love Kyoto."

By placing Kershaw on the injured list, the Dodgers have finalized their roster for the game against the Cubs on the 18th in the Tokyo series opener. The starting pitcher is Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The starting lineup consists of Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Tommy Edman (second baseman), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Teoscar Hernández (right fielder), Will Smith (catcher), Kiké Hernández (left fielder), Max Muncy (third baseman), Miguel Rojas (shortstop), and Andy Páez (center fielder).

[OSEN]