Clayton Kershaw’s Final Season: What Fans Can Expect Before He Retires in 2025

Clayton Kershaw is bidding farewell to his baseball career after this season. The Dodgers announced this big news recently, and fans are gearing up for his last regular season start at Dodger Stadium.

Mark Walter, the owner of the Dodgers, praised Kershaw’s incredible journey. He highlighted Kershaw’s impact not just on the field but also through his charitable work. Kershaw’s career is undeniably legendary, and many expect his name to shine in the Baseball Hall of Fame one day.

Kershaw has spent his entire career with the Dodgers, a rarity in modern baseball. They picked him with the seventh overall pick in 2006, and he made his major league debut in 2008. Back then, he pitched 107 innings with a 4.26 ERA. However, it didn’t take long for him to improve—even in his second season, he posted a much better 2.79 ERA.

From 2011 to 2015, Kershaw hit his peak. He pitched at least 227 innings in four out of those five years, boasting a remarkable 2.11 ERA during that stretch. FanGraphs assigned him an impressive 37.1 wins above replacement, outpacing all his peers.

Injuries later changed the dynamic of his career, limiting his innings. Yet, he maintained high-quality performance, usually with an ERA between 2.00 and 3.00. In the shortened 2020 season, he had a stellar 2.16 ERA.

Kershaw’s success bridged a time of struggle for the Dodgers. Before his arrival, the team had a tough stretch, missing the playoffs from 1997 to 2003. They finally broke that streak in 2013, and thanks to Kershaw, they have been playoff contenders ever since, including wins in 2020 and 2024.

It’s important to note that injuries have marked Kershaw’s later years. The past few seasons saw him manage only 120-130 innings while still posting solid numbers. Last year, after two surgeries, his season was cut short, but he’s made a comeback lately, with a 3.53 ERA in 102 innings this season.

Kershaw considered free agency at times, even thinking about joining the Texas Rangers, but he always returned to the Dodgers. In 2014, he signed a historic seven-year, $215 million contract extension, the largest for a pitcher at that time. His later contracts were shorter as he assessed his situation year by year.

As his career comes to a close, Kershaw’s impressive stats include 2,844.2 innings pitched, a 2.54 ERA, 222 wins, and 3,039 strikeouts. He earned multiple accolades, including three Cy Young awards and an MVP title in 2014, a notable achievement for a pitcher.

As Kershaw gets ready for his final games, fans reflect on a career filled with unforgettable moments and milestones. His impact on the Dodgers and baseball is enduring—something fans will cherish long after he hangs up his cleats. More stats and stories about Kershaw’s remarkable journey can be found here.

Source link

clayton kershaw,retirement