The Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that left-hander Clayton Kershaw will retire after 18 seasons in Major League Baseball. A press conference is set for 5:30 P.M. Pacific time at Dodger Stadium, where Kershaw will address the media. His last regular-season home start will be on Friday against the San Francisco Giants.
Clayton Kershaw Retiring After 18 Seasons with Dodgers
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 18, 2025
“A Dodger For Life”
Despite rumors in recent years that the 18-year veteran could finish his career closer to his home in Texas, Kershaw, who was drafted by the Dodgers in 2006, dispelled all doubt when he told a raucous crowd at a World Series celebration last year that he would be “a Dodger for life.” The only question that remained was how long his career would be. Though it was hard to admit, perhaps, there was some foreshadowing when Kershaw kept the baseball after his outing in the All-Star Game.
Behind The Numbers
It is no secret that the first ballot Hall of Famer has struggled with injuries in recent years. However, the numbers that mark his extraordinary tenure are simply astounding. Kershaw is a three-time National League Cy Young Award Winner, the 2014 NL Most Valuable Player, the 2011 pitching Triple Crown Winner, and has held the ERA title five times. He is an 11-time All-Star and has two World Series rings. This season, Kershaw seemed to find the fountain of youth. He is 10-2 with a 3.53 ERA. He also surpassed 3,000 career strikeouts.
To Top It Off…
Finally, Kershaw has the lowest career ERA, 2.54, in the live ball era (minimum 2,5oo innings pitched), which started in 1910. With his career record of 222-96, Kershaw will be the first to finish with 200 wins and fewer than 100 losses since pitchers didn’t pitch off the mound.
When the left-hander toes the rubber, Dodgers fans affectionately call it “Kershaw Day.” Now, that those days are coming to an end, every pitch will carry a lasting memory even after Kershaw is enshrined in Cooperstown.
Main Photo Credit: Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
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