3,000 Strikeouts Later, Clayton Kershaw Hangs Up his Cleats

For every baseball fan, Clayton Kershaw is a household name. The 37-year-old left-handed pitcher has had one of the most exceptional careers in baseball. Unfortunately, after 18 seasons in the MLB, Kershaw recently announced that this 2025 season would be his last. Since 2008, Kershaw has earned 11 All-Star appearances, five Earned Run Average (ERA) Titles, three Cy Young Awards, one Gold Glove, one National League MVP, and one World Series title. As a result, players and fans across the league have appreciated his lasting presence in the baseball community. As they wonder what’s next, one thing remains certain: Kershaw will soon find himself in Cooperstown.

Kershaw was born in Dallas, Texas, on March 19, 1998. He grew up playing Little League Baseball and continued to play into high school, where he pitched at Highland Park High School. There, he was also a center for the football team and played alongside his childhood best friend, Matthew Stafford, who is now a quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams. In his senior year, Kershaw had a 13-0 record, an ERA of 0.77, and struck out 139 batters. Kershaw even pitched a perfect game in the playoffs of his senior year. Hence, he was a top prospect for the 2006 Draft; in his scouting report, scout Gib Bodet wrote, “Big, strong, and very projectable. His [fastball] is power now […] His breaking stuff should be above [average], as is the case with his [changeup].” Kershaw was highly advanced before even setting foot into professional baseball; most players do not have developed breaking pitches before college or the minor leagues. Come the draft, Kershaw was the seventh overall pick and became a Los Angeles Dodger, where he spent the next 17 years

Kershaw flew through the minors quickly and made his debut on May 24, 2008, making him the youngest player in Major League Baseball at the time. Typically, pitchers take at least four years to progress through the minors. Kershaw was able to do so in only two. He had a spectacular outing, striking out seven across six innings and only allowing two runs. Despite common trends of slumps in young players, Kershaw pitched his first complete game shutout against the San Francisco Giants in 2010. In 2011, Kershaw was honored with the privilege of being the Dodgers’ Opening Day Starter, and he didn’t disappoint. He started the season with two complete games in a row and continued to build his extraordinary stats, even at his young age of only 23 years. Kershaw earned his first All-Star Game appearance that year and later won the Triple Crown, a Gold Glove, and the NL Cy Young; it’s an extremely rare feat to be honored with all four in a single season. In 2013 and 2014, Kershaw picked up two more Cy Youngs and won his only NL MVP in 2014, with only 25 pitchers ever having won one. Kershaw even reached 300 strikeouts in 2015, becoming the 11th player to do so in MLB history. Though Kershaw never returned to his prime, he undoubtedly made his mark as a tremendous player. 

Kershaw made numerous World Series appearances, winning one with the Dodgers in 2020. In 2025, Kershaw reached yet another historic milestone of becoming the 20th player in history to accumulate 3,000 career strikeouts. The legend announced his retirement on September 18, 2025, wanting to end on a good note, healthy and happy. In response, Kershaw received praise from former teammates and rivals alike. Current Los Angeles Angels closer Kenley Jansen, who was Kershaw’s close teammate for 12 seasons, said, “It [was just] miserable for hitters for 18 years. It’s unbelievable to see how he works, man. How he works, and how he prepares and dedicates [himself]. His routine was his routine, and he never slipped from [it].” 

Kershaw’s rookie teammates described how they grew up learning from his mechanics and watching him create history. Reliever Jack Dreyer said, “It’s been one of the coolest things that you could imagine. Growing up, I would watch him. I had pictures of us [side-by-side] for mechanics when I was in high school. To say he was someone I looked up to is an understatement. So it’s been really special to get to share his last season with him. You can’t really put it into words.” 

As Kershaw settles into a calmer, baseball-less life, there is just one more baseball goal in mind: the Hall of Fame. The question isn’t whether or not Kershaw will be granted a spot in Cooperstown, but rather when. Currently, only four southpaws have entered the Hall on their first ballot: Steve Carlton, Sandy Koufax, Tom Glavine, and Randy Johnson. Critics might try to cite Kershaw’s lackluster postseason performance—he holds an ERA of 4.49, significantly different from his regular-season stats—as a reason for him not to be on the ballot. However, Kershaw did take home the 2020 ring, which is of significant note. Kershaw’s stats line up with the first four ballot southpaws, so there is a clear argument that Kershaw deserves to become the fifth in that list.

Kershaw has proved himself as one of the best pitchers of our modern era with astonishing stats dotting his profile. Though Kershaw hopes to conclude his Major League career with another World Series title, he has undoubtedly had an incredible 18-year career as one of the best pitchers in the league. Kershaw has performed well for his team, inspired young players, and served as an example for future players. Now, as he hangs up his cleats, he can finally settle down with his family and enjoy a life he has yet to experience—a life free from professional baseball. Maybe now he has the time to train his kids to follow in his footsteps.