Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw to Retire After Season

Clayton Kershaw, one of baseball’s most dominant and admired pitchers of our time, just announced he’ll retire after the 2025 MLB season. After 18 years in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform, the 37-year-old lefty says he’s at peace with the decision.

Fans are already bracing for a long, emotional goodbye. Kershaw’s impact, both on and off the field, has shaped the franchise and left a mark on Major League Baseball.

A Legendary Career in Dodger Blue

Spending your whole career with one team? That’s almost unheard of these days, but Kershaw stuck with the Dodgers from day one. He debuted in 2008 and quickly built a legacy as one of the best pitchers the game’s ever seen.

His résumé is stacked. It’s basically a Hall of Fame checklist.

Milestones and Records

Kershaw’s numbers over nearly two decades are just wild. Here are some of the big ones:

• 222 career wins — second only to Don Sutton in Dodgers history.
• Became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to notch 3,000 strikeouts, hitting the mark in July 2025.
• Holds a 2.54 career ERA — lowest of any pitcher in the live-ball era since 1920.
• Owns a .698 winning percentage — tops among pitchers with at least 200 wins since 1900.
• 2014 National League MVP — one of the few pitchers to ever win it.
• World Series champion in 2020 and 2024 (though he missed the 2024 postseason with an injury).

Adapting to Stay Elite

Back in his early days, Kershaw blew hitters away with mid-90s heat and a nasty curve. But as the years passed and injuries piled up, he had to change things up.

He lost some velocity, but made up for it with pinpoint command and a filthy slider. That’s how he stayed dangerous on the mound.

2025 Season Performance

Even in his second-to-last season, Kershaw put up numbers most pitchers would kill for. He went 10-2 with a 3.53 ERA across 20 starts.

His baseball IQ and stubborn competitiveness haven’t faded one bit. Honestly, his ability to adapt has kept him in the game this long.

Leadership and Impact Beyond the Box Score

Kershaw’s value goes way beyond stats. In the Dodgers clubhouse, he sets the tone—always competing, always pushing.

Manager Dave Roberts calls him the “greatest competitor” he’s ever managed. Teammates and rivals alike talk about Kershaw as a true generational talent.

Philanthropy and Family

Off the mound, Kershaw and his wife Ellen have made a real difference with their charity work in Los Angeles and Africa. They focus on housing, education, and healthcare for communities that need it most.

The couple juggles all that while raising four kids—and another on the way. Life’s busy for the Kershaw family, but they keep showing up for others.

The Final Chapter and Hall of Fame Destiny

Kershaw’s last regular-season home start at Dodger Stadium is set against the San Francisco Giants. That’s poetic, given the rivalry.

We don’t know what his postseason role will look like in 2025, but Dodger fans will savor every minute he has left on the mound.

Cooperstown Beckons

When the curtain finally falls on Kershaw’s career, there’s really not much to argue about his place in baseball history.

He’s expected to be a first-ballot inductee and will be eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2031.

Kershaw’s mix of dominance, consistency, and his loyalty to just one franchise pretty much guarantees his legacy will stick around for a long, long time.

For now, the countdown to Kershaw’s last pitch has officially started.

Dodgers fans—and honestly, all of baseball—get one more full season to soak in the brilliance of a guy whose name just feels like pitching greatness.

 
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