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For an update on Brett Anderson’s offseason progress, read Ken Gurnick’s story at MLB.com.

By Jon Weisman

So, 2015 won’t be the first time that Brett Anderson and Clayton Kershaw are teammates.

Turn the clock back about 10 years, and the new Dodger lefty and the standout Dodger lefty found themselves on the Team USA 18-and-under squad.

“It was kind of right before he became ‘Clayton Kershaw’,” Anderson recalled in a conference call with reporters today. “He had some hype and was projected to go fairly (high) in the draft – he obviously had that tremendous arm.”

Still, Anderson recalled, Kershaw was the “third or fourth starter” on a team that included Anderson, Dellin Betances, Tyson Ross and Shawn Tolleson. Then things took off.

“He kind of flipped that switch and next thing you know,” Anderson said of Kershaw, named the 2006 high school player of the year, “he’s the best left-handed pitching prospect in the country.”

Anderson called Kershaw one of “the nicest guys you could be around,” and that fondness remained long after their high school days were over. Anderson was with the opposing Colorado Rockies when Kershaw threw his no-hitter this past June 18, and couldn’t help praising the lefty.

Brett Anderson pitching for the South Bend Silver Hawks in 2007. (Chris Proctor/MiLB.com)

Brett Anderson pitching for the South Bend Silver Hawks in 2007. (Chris Proctor/MiLB.com)

On April 5, 2007, the two faced each other in the Class-A Midwest League debut for each: Anderson with South Bend, Kershaw with visiting Great Lakes. Kershaw walked six in 2 1/3 innings, while Anderson allowed five runs (four unearned) and took a hard-luck loss. But the main thing Anderson remembers is that it was about 28 degrees and snowing.

“We were like, ‘What the hell did we get ourselves into? And a few years later, we were pitching in the big leagues at age 21,” Anderson said.

Anderson also had an interesting story to tell today about Zack Greinke, even though the two have really met only one time. Anderson went out to an Arizona State baseball game a couple of years ago, particularly to check out New Mexico State infielder D.J. Peterson (soon to be a first-round draft pick by Seattle). Down the left-field line, in attendance for the same reason, was Greinke.

Of course, Anderson played two seasons in Oakland alongside Brandon McCarthy, and the pair will reunite after the latter’s two seasons with the Diamondbacks and Yankees.

“We’ve maintained a pretty good relationship,” Anderson said. “He’s kind of on the same wavelength as me, especially on social media. … It’ll be fun to get back in the locker room and have some funny conversations with him.”