Los Angeles Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw is retiring at the end of the 2025 season, the team announced Thursday.
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Kershaw is set to make the final regular season start of his career at Dodger Stadium on Friday against the San Francisco Giants.
“Three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, 2014 NL MVP and 11-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers will announce today that he will retire as a player at the end of the 2025 season,” the team’s statement read. “He will make his final Dodger Stadium regular season start on Friday.”
Kershaw returned to the Dodgers on a one-year, $7.5 million deal after undergoing two different offseason surgeries. The 37-year-old’s return to the mound was incredible given the injuries he battled to simply come back.
While no one expected the southpaw to be a key piece in the Dodgers rotation, Kershaw became a consistent starter for LA this season as others were sidelined by injury.
Kershaw is sporting a 3.53 ERA with 71 strikeouts across 102 innings of work in Year 18 with the Dodgers. Despite using an 89 mph fastball (which is in the second percentile for velocity), the left-hander has found new ways to dominate in 2025.
He has a 2.54 career ERA and eclipsed 3,000 career strikeouts on July 2 against the Chicago White Sox. Kershaw became just the fourth left-handed pitcher to achieve the feat.
The 2025 campaign will be the last dance for Kershaw, and it’s certainly been a triumphant farewell to a legendary career.
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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3 Responses
Sad to see him go but I don’t blame him, as much as I assume he loves baseball he’s probably also tired of life on the road. And he’s going out if not quite on top, but will be leaving after a very good season, and hopefully a World Championship.
Tip of the hat to him and good luck on his future endeavors.
It’ll definitely be weird not seeing him after the 2025 season, but it’s nice to know he’s at peace with the decision and can enjoy time with his family.
Definitely can’t blame him and hope the Dodgers can help him go out with a World Series championship