Ryan Bautista | Head Editor & Layout Manager
October 3, 2025
A fastball that barely reaches 89 mph. A body ravaged by an injury list so long that it could warrant its own article. A rocky debut a month into the season. But nevertheless, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw found a way to win. In a year when the rotation was obliterated by injuries and the bullpen was…let’s say…unreliable, Kershaw was as steady as the San Diego Padres’ chances of finishing behind the Dodgers.
Alas, all good things must come to an end, and Kershaw must throw his last strike. After this postseason (in which the Dodgers will absolutely win the World Series), Kershaw will officially retire from baseball after 17 years.
Coming out of high school in 2006, Kershaw was regarded as the best pitcher available in the draft. It wasn’t even close. The Dodgers selected him seventh overall, and he immediately began to thrive. Most current seniors in high school weren’t even alive yet, and Kershaw was making professional baseball players look silly. In his first major league game on May 25, 2008, he struck out the first batter he ever faced. His arsenal of a blistering fastball, wicked curveball, and devastating slider was a deadly combination for hitters. It wasn’t a lot, but those adjectives show how dominant they all were. And, remarkably, he would only go up from there.
Over the next decade-plus (that’s over 10 years of pitching), Kershaw would establish himself as one of the best of his generation. He would be selected to the All-Star Game 11 times, the most recent being this past year. In 2011, he won the NL Cy Young as the best pitcher in the league, the Gold Glove Award for best defensive pitcher, and the Triple Crown; an award that goes to a pitcher who leads the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA in a single season. Kershaw is one of 17 pitchers to do this, a remarkable accomplishment. Perhaps the only other season to come close to his 2011 campaign is 2014, where he amazed the world yet again. Not only did he pitch a no-hitter on June 18th, but he also won his third NL Cy Young, along with having the best ERA. Kershaw also won the Most Valuable Player Award, the crowning achievement of baseball. Despite being a pitcher, he still won the award, making him an inspiration for many.
Unfortunately, the next few years would be plagued by injuries that tried to keep him off the mound. His back, shoulder, forearm, shoulder again, toe, and knee ailed him and didn’t allow him to have a complete season. Nevertheless, he was able to climb to the top of the Dodgers’ record books. Kershaw has the most wins, strikeouts, consecutive appearances without a loss, and All-Star Game selections out of all Dodger players. This past season, he surpassed 3,000 strikeouts and became just the 20th pitcher to achieve that feat. He is also one of 4 left-handers to do it and only the third to do it all with one team. Junior Erik Troester said that he believes that “Kershaw will be the last one [to reach 3,000 strikeouts].” He described Kershaw as “one of the all-time greats, and he deserves all the accolades he has received” over his career.
Kershaw’s regular-season 2.52 ERA is the 2nd-lowest in the live ball era (since 1920), and it has officially come to an end. On September 8th, the day before his last home start, he announced his retirement. Junior Conner Jaurigue explained that he felt “it is time for him because he’s done it for so long. He did it all, got a few championships, and now he can stop.”
However, the fight isn’t over just yet. During Kershaw’s announcement, Dodger reporter David Vassegh asked Kershaw how he plans on pitching the rest of the year. Kershaw responded, “I plan on pitching good, Dave.” So even with the regular season done, Kershaw and the rest of his teammates are still seeking to end the season on a win.
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