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Clayton Kershaw praises new Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz, laments loss of A.J. Ellis

A new catcher occupied A.J. Ellis’ old locker at Dodger Stadium on Friday afternoon. On his first day as a Dodger, Carlos Ruiz found himself next door to Clayton Kershaw, a close friend of Ellis and one of his strongest advocates in the organization.

The departure of Ellis on Thursday rocked the Dodgers’ clubhouse, and perhaps no man felt the loss more acutely than Kershaw. He wept with Ellis in the dugout before Ellis left the ballpark to join the Phillies.

A day later, after throwing a 60-pitch bullpen session as he approaches a return to the majors, Kershaw spoke with reporters about the trade.