Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw hung up the cleats after the 2025 season, putting an end to an extremely successful 18-year career with the Dodgers.
In 2025, Kershaw led all active players with a 2.53 career ERA and 15 career shutouts. He ended his career with 3,052 strikeouts and 223 wins in 455 appearances. He won a multitude of awards, taking home an MVP, three Cy Young awards, three World Series championships, a Triple Crown, a Gold Glove and five ERA titles, and also made 11 All-Star appearances.
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With his career over now, though, and no plans to enter a coaching or managing career, Kershaw has plenty of time on his hands outside of baseball. Kershaw shared what he plans — or doesn’t plan — to do in his retirement on the Pardon My Take podcast.
“I think the biggest thing is I have zero motivation to workout at all. Zero. I just don’t want to do anything,” Kershaw said. “And that usually happens after the season, but slowly but surely you’re like, ‘Alright, I’ve gotta do this to get ready for next season.’ But with no next season, it’s like, I guess I need to start working out because this body can get out of hand really fast. But, right now, no motivation to do that.”
After spending so much time under the Dodger Stadium lights, Kershaw definitely deserves a break. Kershaw had a fantastic season with the Dodgers, but the future Hall of Famer revealed he knew 2025 would be his last season before it had even started.
“I knew I was done basically the whole season,” Kershaw said. I kind of went into this year thinking it was going to be my last one and didn’t really say anything until the end and then going into the postseason definitely knowing it was my last one. What a way to end it, man, it was so special. I couldn’t script it any better than that. It was just time, it was time to be done and I’m at peace with that and I don’t have to try to keep up anymore.”
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The Dodgers will sorely miss Kershaw, but have plenty of suitable starters to carry the torch and continue the team’s success in the future.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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One Response
No Bellinger. Please! Heard is arrogant doesn’t listen coaches.