‘I Don’t Throw a Cutter!’ Mic’d Up Clayton Kershaw Rejects Broadcaster’s Pitch Request Mid-Windup During All-Star Game

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw shook off a signal as hard as any pitcher ever had. And the call wasn’t coming from his catcher, but instead Fox color commentator John Smoltz.

Kershaw was mic’d up during the second inning of Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which is pretty much the only time pitchers on the mound will speak with broadcasters. It was Kershaw’s 11th Midsummer Classic and possibly the 37-year-old’s last.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this, Clayton,” said play-by-play man Joe Davis.

“I can’t, either,” Kershaw replied to start the inning. “I’m gonna try to throw cheese real quick. Hold on.”

Kershaw then threw to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh – MLB’s home run leader and Monday’s Home Run Derby winner – and The Big Dumper hit a rope to left field where Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker made a nifty sliding catch for the first out.

“That was sick!” Kershaw exclaimed.

“This might be my last batter, guys,” the pitcher informed the booth.

“All right, going cheese again,” Kershaw said before throwing a called strike to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays.

“Right down the middle,” the pitcher said, disappointed in his location. “I’m so glad he didn’t swing. Ok, I’m going curveball here.”

Kershaw made no attempt to obscure his mouth from the batters as he explained what pitches were coming next. He proceeded to bounce the curve on the plate for ball one.

“What now?” Smoltz, a Hall of Fame pitcher, asked the future Hall of Famer.

“All right, now, I think I gotta probably go slider,” Kershaw said before referring to his catcher and fellow Dodger Will Smith. “Let’s see what Will thinks, but I think I gotta go slider here.”

Smith called for a curveball, which Kershaw obliged by saying, “All right, fine.” Guerrero swung, but was way out in front and whiffed.

“What do you want, Smoltzie?” Kershaw asked. “What do you want?”

“Uh, cutter in,” Smoltz said.

“I don’t throw a cutter, Smoltzie!” Kershaw interjected as he began his windup.

“Slider in,” Smoltz said.

“Son of a–” Kershaw said as he bounced another breaking ball to bring the count to 2-2.

“How about the splitty?” Davis asked.

“What’s the count – 2-2?” Kershaw said. “This is so weird talking to you guys. Holy cow.”

Kershaw then threw a slider over the plate, which Guerrero took for strike three.

As Kershaw predicted, that was his last batter of the game, as National League and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came out to get his pitcher, who received an ovation from the crowd at Truist Park in Atlanta.

Watch above via Fox Sports.