Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner and former National League MVP, will retire at the end of the 2025 season, the team announced on Thursday.
Friday will be Kershaw’s final career regular season start at Dodger Stadium, facing the Giants, the longtime rival he’s faced more than any team during his career.
“On behalf of the Dodgers, I congratulate Clayton on a fabulous career and thank him for the many moments he gave to Dodger fans and baseball fans everywhere, as well
as for all of his profound charitable endeavors,” Dodgers owner Mark Walter said in a statement. “His is a truly legendary career, one that we know will lead to his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.”
Kershaw’s 18 seasons are the most of any pitcher in Dodgers history, and tied with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the most seasons by any player in franchise history. He is the team’s all-time leader in strikeouts, having reached the 3,000-strikeout milestone earlier this season on July 3.
After shoulder surgery following the 2023 season, and procedures on his knee and left foot last offseason, this has been a relatively healthy season for Kershaw, who made his season debut in May. Kershaw this season is 10-2 with a 3.53 ERA and 3.83 xERA in 20 starts, with 71 strikeouts and 30 walks in 102 innings.
Kershaw is an 11-time All-Star, five-time ERA leader, and three-time strikeout leader. In addition to winning the National League Cy Young Award in 2011, 2013, and 2014, he finished top five in the voting in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017 as well. He’s 222-96 with a 2.54 ERA in 452 career games, including 449 starts, with 3,039 strikeouts. His ERA and ERA+ (154) are the lowest in the live-ball era.
Kershaw will hold a press conference at Dodger Stadium on Thursday at 5:30 p.m., which will be televised by SportsNet LA.
