Legendary Dodgers pitcher Kershaw announces retirement following his 18th MLB campaign
Clayton Kershaw, a two-time World Series champion and three-time Cy Young Award-winner, has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball (MLB) after spending all 18 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kershaw, who is considered a baseball legend by his teammates and manager, has been resurgent this season despite being hampered by injury in 2024. His decision to retire comes after much contemplation and discussions with his wife.
Drafted seventh overall by the Dodgers out of Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas, in 2008, Kershaw has established himself as one of the greatest pitchers in Dodgers' history. He became just the second pitcher to claim Most Valuable Player honors in 2014 and led the major leagues in earned-run-average each season from 2011-2014, winning the Cy Young Award again in 2013 and 2014.
Kershaw's manager, Dave Roberts, has expressed admiration for Kershaw's consistency and competitiveness. Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers' first baseman, has referred to Kershaw as a baseball legend.
Injuries have piled up for Kershaw since 2020, including left shoulder surgery before the 2024 season and knee and foot surgeries in November 2024. However, Kershaw's resilience and determination have shone through, as he returned to the Dodgers rotation in May 2025, shoring up a struggling pitching staff.
Kershaw played a crucial role in the Dodgers' World Series victories in 2020, vanquishing the Tampa Bay Rays, and in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, where he led the team to their first NL title. He also helped the Dodgers win their first World Series title in 2017.
As of now, Kershaw has at least 222 career wins and more than 3,000 strikeouts. He will take the mound one last time on Friday for his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium, with the San Francisco Giants set to play against the Dodgers.
Kershaw's retirement marks the end of an era for the Dodgers, as they bid farewell to one of their greatest players. His contributions to the team and the sport will not be forgotten, and he will forever be remembered as a baseball legend.
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