Three-time National League Cy Young Award winner, 11-time All-Star, 2014 NL MVP and two-time World Series champion Clayton Kershaw announced today that he will retire from the Los Angeles Dodgers as a player at the end of the 2025 season. He will make his final Dodger Stadium regular season start when the Dodgers host the San Francisco Giants on Friday evening.
Kershaw holds a career record of 222-96 with 15 shutouts, all figures ranking first among active Major Leaguers. His 2.54 ERA is the lowest of any pitcher in the Live Ball era (since 1920, minimum 100 starts), and his winning percentage tops all pitchers with at least 200 victories since 1900.
On July 2 of this year, Kershaw became the 20th player and fourth left-hander in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts (now 3,039). Drafted with the No. 7 overall pick in 2006, the 37-year-old Dallas native made his MLB debut on May 25, 2008 and has pitched his entire 18-year Major League career with the Dodgers, tying with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the most years in franchise history.
In 2012, for his significant contributions to the game on and off the field through community involvement and philanthropy, Kershaw also won baseball’s Roberto Clemente Award.
“On behalf of the Dodgers, I congratulate Clayton on a fabulous career and thank him for the many moments he gave to Dodger fans and baseball fans everywhere, as well as for all of his profound charitable endeavors,” said Mark Walter, Owner and Chairman, Los Angeles Dodgers. “His is a truly legendary career, one that we know will lead to his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Kershaw’s role on the team’s potential postseason roster has yet to be determined. Considered a lock to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he will be eligible for Cooperstown in 2031.
(Juan Dorado furnished most of the information provided in this report)
Think Blue Planning Committee 
I’d like to just give a tip of the hat and a moment to take in exactly the absolute greatness we have been spoiled to see for the last 2 decades. He was better than Sandy, FULL STOP. He managed to do what so few guy are able to do which is reinvent himself when he lost the velocity on his fastball. Kersh leaned on his slider and his curveball that might be the best ever. He may be throwing 88-91 now but to me he will always be the big lefty with the 96 mph heater and, from the great Vin Scully, public enemy number one mowing down hitters one after the other. Thank you so much for the memories Clayton and thank you and your family for being just great human beings who more athletes should try to be more like. It isn’t going to be the same without you 22!
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Well said, my friend.
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I’ll very much miss Clayton Kershaw, the pitcher, but more than that, Clayton Kershaw the human being. What a great example for so many youngsters growing up in LA these past 18 years.
I know they’ll be living in Dallas but I hope we’ll see him at the stadium every so often. And maybe they’ll be able to convince him to get into the broadcast booth a few times a year. From what I’ve seen, he’s a way better color man than anyone who’s ever occupied that spot.
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Clayton is just a shade behind Sandy as the Dodgers greatest pitcher. Clayton pitched longer but missed many starts due to a variety of injuries. Sandy gets extra credit for Complete games and shutouts as well as 3 pitching triple crowns in a 4-year period and of course his World Series performances. Clayton’s three Cy Young awards were in 2011, 2013 and 2014. In 2016 he went 12-4 with an ERA of 1.69 in 21 starts and probably would have won a 4th if he hadn’t missed about 12 starts. Max Scherzer won by going 20-7 2.96 and 284 strikeouts in 34 starts. Clayton had superior stats that year but just didn’t make enough starts. In addition to the superior ERA Clayton had a batting average against of .184, Max .199 and a WHIP of 0.72!!, Max had 0.97.
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