Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Reacts To Winning NL MVP
On Thursday, he added to that when he became the first National League pitcher since Bob Gibson in 1968 to win the NL MVP award. Kershaw beat out Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins and Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates to take home the honor. This came a day after the left-hander won his third Cy Young award and second straight. Following his Cy Young victory, Kershaw said that he couldn’t “fathom” winning the MVP.
According to Mark Saxon of ESPN LA, the 26-year-old reacted to his victory:
You know you’re a finalist, but I guess I never really anticipated to win that, especially when you’re associated with guys like and Andrew and Giancarlo,” Kershaw said. “To say you’re MVP, I don’t know if I could ever get used to that, but it’s obviously a huge honor.”
The ace went on to discuss how much it means to him to win this award:
When you see that ‘most valuable’ in front of something, to have people think you really mean that much to your team, it really is a huge honor for me,” Kershaw told MLB Network immediately after the announcement. “It’s one of the coolest things ever.”
Kershaw became the first Dodger to win the award since 1988 and first Dodger pitcher since Sandy Koufax in 1963. His win comes after signing a seven-year, $215 million deal in the offseason, the largest deal in Dodger history. Along with the handful of awards he’s won this offseason, Kershaw is expecting a child with his wife Ellen in December.
He also talked about the transition he will make into fatherhood:
We both know our world is going to change pretty soon and we’re having fun getting ready,” Kershaw said. “We’re excited for it, but honestly, until you have kids, I don’t think you can know what it’s going to be like. This season should look a lot different for us.”
It’s safe to say that 2014 was and will be a special year for Clayton Kershaw.
Wasn’t it the first pitcher since 1698? Not 1988…
I dont think baseball was around in 1698.
First NL pitcher since 68, First Dodger since Gibby in 88.
RP Eckersley won the AL MVP in 1992.