"Clayton Kershaw expresses feelings of appreciation and thankfulness upon his comeback in 2025."

Jack Harris Follow

Last year, a fairy-tale end could have been the story.

If Clayton Kershaw had been fit, he'd likely have been part of the Dodgers' postseason roster, pitching valuable innings during their run to the World Series. And in Year 17 of his extraordinary Hall of Fame career, he might have retired on a high, having proven himself yet again on two championship teams.

"Yeah, if I'd been a part of last year's run, won a World Series, and gone out that way, that would've been cool," Kershaw recently stated, musing on what might have been, had he been healthy last October. "But I wasn't. And it was still a blast to be a part of. But it made the desire to come back stronger, for sure."

Back for another season, Kershaw is slated to make his return on Saturday, following two months of recovery from offseason surgeries on his toe and knee that kept him out during the Dodgers' title run last year.

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Unlike previous offseasons, Kershaw wasn't pondering retirement as seriously last fall. Even before the Dodgers won their second championship in the past five years, he already knew he wanted to pitch in 2025. After making just seven starts in 2024 with a 4.50 ERA, and missing the season stretch when his bothersome toe injury became too much, he didn't want his career to end with him watching from the dugout as the Dodgers won without him.

"Getting back on the mound is the first step for me," Kershaw stated, ahead of his first big-league outing since August 30, 2024. "The rest is the season, obviously. But making it through Saturday and getting back out there is what I've thought about so far."

To reach this point, the 18-year veteran had to endure a challenging offseason.

Just days after the Dodgers' World Series parade, Kershaw underwent surgeries to address his left knee, torn due to a meniscus injury, and his left foot, affected by arthritis, a bone spur, and a ruptured plantar plate.

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"If someone asked me, 'What all did they do to your foot?' I don't know if I can answer every detail, but I know it wasn't easy," Kershaw admitted, acknowledging the complex nature of foot surgery, a procedure only a few baseball players have undergone before.

"This one was tough," he added, contrasting it to the relatively straightforward shoulder procedure he had the prior offseason. "It felt like people talk about bad surgeries."

The hardest part was the recovery, with Kershaw spending several weeks on crutches or in a walking boot.

"Being on crutches with four kids isn't easy," he said. "Your offseason is supposed to be about being around and helping more. And those first six weeks, I wasn't much help. It felt helpless."

Still, Kershaw's determination remained undeterred. He embarked on a throwing program at the start of spring training and began a minor-league rehab stint in the middle of April. By May, he had posted a 2.57 ERA in five rehab starts, believing he'd turned a corner with his foot in the last couple outings.

"In those last few rehab starts, I focused more on pitching well and getting outs than on how my foot felt," he said. "That was a positive sign. Now, it's about figuring out how to get outs consistently again and perform well."

The uncertainty surrounding Kershaw's performance in the big leagues remains, as his fastball sat in the upper-80s during his rehab stint, a few ticks below his recent velocity. He struck out only 16 batters in 21 innings, relying more on command and inducing soft contact to navigate starts.

On the other hand, Kershaw's arm is healthier than it's been in years now, 17 months following his 2023 shoulder surgery. Even with diminished stuff last year, he proved competitive, holding a 3.72 ERA before his toe flared up in his August 30, 2024, outing. And regaining Kershaw in the rotation will provide a significant boost for the Dodgers, who have recently been shorthanded with fellow starters Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki all dealing with shoulder injuries.

"Having Kershaw back is a major boost," manager Dave Roberts said. "He's worked hard to recover, and his goal isn't just to be active. He wants to contribute to our wins. I know he's excited to help us."

In an uncharacteristic show of excitement, Kershaw couldn't help but grin around the ballpark in recent days, particularly when thinking about Austin Barnes' departure. "Is that unusual?" Kershaw quipped when a reporter pointed it out. He also downplayed his pursuit of 3,000 career strikeouts, now 32 Ks away from entering the exclusive statistical club, in favor of appreciating the opportunity to compete again.

"When you've been away from something for a long time and realize how much you miss it, there's a lot of gratitude," Kershaw said. "I definitely feel the gratitude now, but if I don't pitch well, that feeling will fade quickly. So there are performance expectations, too."

When asked about retirement, Kershaw chuckled.

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"Someone might tell me to retire someday," Kershaw stated. "But right now, I still feel like I have more to offer."

Eighteen years later, Kershaw remains determined to make a difference for the Dodgers.

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Jack Harris might have been tracking the Dodgers' journey in the World Series last year, had Clayton Kershaw been healthy enough to join them.
This year, Dodgers fans can expect to see Kershaw back on the mound, as he recovers from offseason surgeries on his toe and knee, ready to contribute to the team's success in baseball.
Dodgers fans watching the sports this season might appreciate the impressive performance of rookie catcher Dalton Rushing, as he makes his big-league debut.
The Dodgers have a new addition to their team this year, Hyeseong Kim, and if they want to keep him, they'll need to ensure he stays with the organization.