Clayton Kershaw made his 2017 Spring Training debut on Saturday. (Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers)

By Cary Osborne

If you had never seen Clayton Kershaw pitch until Saturday, then you would have found out seven pitches in just how demanding he is of himself.

Kershaw reeled off a changeup that harmlessly missed the plate in the Dodgers’ Spring Training opener against the Chicago White Sox.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner fell behind designated hitter Melky Cabrera 2–1 with the pitch.

Kershaw let out a frustrating yell that could be heard throughout Camelback Ranch.

When mistakes were allowable by everyone on day one, every pitch mattered for Kershaw.

Three pitches later he struck Cabrera out.

Kershaw threw 12 pitches in the opener and retired the White Sox in order.

“Fastball command wasn’t as good as I wanted it to, and that’s probably the most important thing that first time out — getting fastball command where you want it to be,” Kershaw said. “Everything works off that. I got behind every batter today, but the results are OK. I got three outs. I’ll take it for today, and get ready for the next one.”

Even more striking about Kershaw’s frustration with the pitch — according to Brooks Baseball, he threw a changeup six times the entire 2016 regular season.

Asked if he wanted to throw the pitch more this spring, Kershaw said: “If it’s good I will. After today probably not,” he said sarcastically to the last part. “Hopefully it gets better than it was today, the one I threw. I threw some in live BP the other day and thought it was pretty decent. So hopefully next time, in a real game, I could throw a little more.”

With the World Baseball Classic creating a lengthier Spring Training, Kershaw will likely get one more preseason start than usual (he started six games each in 2015 and 2016). The Dodgers ace said he anticipates his next start will be a two-inning outing.