Clayton Kershaw, the legendary left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has officially announced that he will retire after the 2025 MLB season, concluding a remarkable 18-year career spent entirely with the Dodgers. The 37-year-old, who was drafted seventh overall in the 2006 MLB Draft out of Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas, will make his final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants—fittingly, the team he has faced more than any other during his storied tenure.
Kershaw’s career is a testament to both dominance and loyalty. He is one of just a few pitchers in MLB history to spend his entire career with one franchise, an increasingly rare accomplishment in modern sports. “You look at people throughout all of sports that have been able to do that, and it is special, it is. I don’t want to lose sight of that,” Kershaw reflected earlier this year. For Dodgers fans and baseball purists, his retirement marks the end of an era defined by consistency, excellence, and professionalism on the mound.
Statistically, Kershaw stands among the all-time greats. He boasts a career 2.54 ERA—projected to rank 25th among qualified pitchers in MLB history—and recently surpassed 3,000 career strikeouts, making him only the 20th pitcher and the fourth left-hander to achieve that milestone. This season, he has continued to contribute at an elite level, going 10-2 with a 3.53 ERA through his first 20 starts, despite battling injuries and undergoing left shoulder surgery in the offseason. In April, he recorded his 200th career win, becoming the only Dodger to reach that mark exclusively with the franchise, and joining iconic names like Don Sutton and Don Drysdale on the Dodgers’ all-time list.
Kershaw’s accolades are nothing short of historic: three Cy Young Awards, the 2014 NL MVP, 11 All-Star selections, and two World Series championships. His postseason resume includes over 40 appearances, and he is the Dodgers’ all-time leader in both wins and strikeouts. His remarkable ability to limit opponents—a .206 batting average against in 2023, for example—has made him a fixture in any conversation about the best pitchers of his generation.
As Kershaw prepares for his final games, the Dodgers have already begun commemorating his legacy. The team recently held a Clayton Kershaw 3,000 Strikeouts Bobblehead giveaway, and his jersey remains a best-seller among fans. Beyond his statistical dominance, Kershaw has earned a reputation for humility and leadership, as evidenced by his receipt of the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award in 2012 for his charitable work off the field.
For those interested in following his final season, up-to-date stats, highlights, and news can be found on Clayton Kershaw’s ESPN profile and on the official @claytonkershaw Twitter account. As the Dodgers aim to defend their World Series title, Kershaw’s leadership and experience will be vital, regardless of his role on the postseason roster.
Retiring as a Dodger, the only organization he’s ever known, is the ultimate tribute to Kershaw’s loyalty and impact on the franchise. As he steps away from the mound, his legacy will endure not just in the record books, but in the hearts of fans and the annals of baseball history.