Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw will retire at the end of 2025 season
The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Clayton Kershaw will retire at the end of the 2025 season.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner, 2014 NL MVP, and 11-time All-Star will make his final Dodger Stadium regular-season start on Friday.
"This is weird," Kershaw said with a chuckle during a news conference following the announcement. "Yeah, I'm going to call it. I'm going to retire ... I'm at peace with it. I think it's the right time."
The Texas native made his big league debut on May 25, 2008, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has been with the Boys in Blue for his entire 18-season MLB career. Kershaw won World Series championships in 2020 and in 2024, and his winning percentage tops all pitchers with at least 200 victories since 1900.
"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 his profound charitable endeavors," 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."
Earlier this year, the 37-year-old became the 20th pitcher ever to record 3,000 or more career strikeouts. He ranks fourth all-time among left-handed pitchers in that category, behind Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton, and CC Sabathia, according to CBS Sports.
"It's been such a fun year," Kershaw said. "I've had such a blast with this group. I've had such a blast with all of you guys. I can't think of a better season to go out."
So far this season, Kershaw is 10-2 with a 3.55 ERA. He has 77 strikeouts through 106 and 1/3 innings pitched and has kept batters hitting at just .247. He was named as a "Legend Pick" by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for the 2025 All-Star Game, marking his 11th appearance, which is the most ever for a Dodger.
Kershaw said he aims to stay focused and hopes his final regular-season game won't distract the team from its goal of winning.
"We're gonna get through this today, and then we're going to win the rest of the games and we'll be good," Kershaw said.
Kershaw thanked the Dodgers' owners, coaching staff and his teammates.
"The hardest ones are the teammates," Kershaw said while tearing up. "I'm not even going to look you guys in the eye. Just you guys sitting in this room, you mean so much to me ... I'm gonna miss it."
Kershaw said he mulled over his retirement with his wife, Ellen. He shared a letter that Ellen wrote to him, reflecting on their 18 seasons with the Dodgers and thanked her for being by his side throughout his career.
"I'm really not sad. I'm really not. I'm really at peace with this," he said.
He took the mound Friday night against the San Francisco Giants for his final regular-season start in front of the Dodger faithful. He lasted through 4 and 1/3 innings, striking out six and allowing two earned runs. The Dodgers would end up winning the contest, 6-3.
Through his final home start on Friday night, Kershaw had a career record of 222-96 with a 2.54 ERA. He has tallied 3,045 strikeouts in 2,849 innings pitched and hurled a no-hitter in 2014. Along with his MVP awards and All-Star Game appearances, Kershaw has also earned one Gold Glove Award in 2011 and the Roberto Clemente Award in 2012. In 2011, he led the National League in wins strikeouts and earned run average, making him the first Dodgers pitcher to earn the Triple Crown since Sandy Koufax did so in 1966.
Kershaw's announcement came just hours before another Los Angeles legend announced plans to hang up their gear for good, when LA Kings Captain Anze Kopitar made it known that he would retire at the end of the upcoming season, his 20th.
