Dodgers Ace, Clayton Kershaw, Announces Retirement After 18 Years in MLB Season of 2025
Clayton Kershaw Announces Retirement, Concluding a Storied Career with the Dodgers
After 18 seasons in Major League Baseball, Clayton Kershaw, the three-time Cy Young Award winner and 11-time All-Star honoree, has announced his retirement. The left-handed pitcher, who turned 37 years old this year, made the announcement during a press conference on Thursday afternoon.
Kershaw, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers as the No. 7 pick in 2006, has been a cornerstone of the team for over a decade. His contributions to the Dodgers are immeasurable, and his retirement marks the end of one of the most storied pitching careers in recent memory.
In his final regular-season start, Kershaw will take the mound at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants on a game with postseason implications for both teams. The Dodgers' potential postseason rotation may include Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, but Kershaw's absence will undoubtedly be felt.
Throughout his career, Kershaw has consistently been among the league's elite pitchers. He ranks fourth all-time among left-handed pitchers in career strikeouts, behind Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton, and CC Sabathia. Kershaw's career ERA of 2.54 (154 ERA+) and his 4.29 strikeout-to-walk ratio are testaments to his dominance on the mound.
Kershaw's accolades include three Cy Young Awards (2011, 2013, and 2014), a Most Valuable Player Award (2014), and five ERA titles. In 2011, he became the youngest pitcher to win the National Cy Young since Dwight Gooden in 1985.
Despite pausing after August of the regular season due to a toe injury that ended his season, Kershaw played for the Dodgers in the 2024 World Series. However, he missed the entire postseason, including the Dodgers' World Series win, due to the injury. Walker Buehler, who actually helped the Dodgers win the 2024 World Series and earned the series-clinching save, was the one who led the team in the postseason.
Mark Walter, the owner of the Dodgers, congratulated Kershaw on his career and thanked him for his charitable endeavors. Kershaw's contributions to baseball have been estimated to be worth 77.6 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference.
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers' manager, has stated that he trusts Kershaw and plans to include him on the postseason roster, should he be healthy enough to return. However, it seems that Kershaw's retirement will mark the end of his illustrious career, leaving a void that may never be filled.
As Kershaw prepares for his final regular-season start, the Dodgers and their fans will take the opportunity to honour a player who has given so much to the team and the sport. Kershaw's retirement will undoubtedly be a bittersweet moment for all involved, but his legacy will live on in the annals of baseball history.
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