After months of rehabbing across Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Arizona, Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw is finally closing in on his long-awaited return to a big league mound. His next stop: Los Angeles.
Kershaw completed what is expected to be his final rehab appearance on Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City. The 37-year-old southpaw threw 57 pitches (35 strikes) over four innings, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out two. The slightly reduced workload was planned as he continues his steady buildup following offseason surgeries on his left shoulder and left big toe.
Assuming he recovers well in the days ahead, Kershaw is likely to be activated from the 60-day injured list next weekend. His return appears to be perfectly timed for a Sunday start at Dodger Stadium against the Angels, which would mark his 2025 season debut—and his first Major League outing since August of last year.
Dodgers Could Use the Reinforcement
Kershaw’s return couldn’t come at a better time. The Dodgers, who wrapped up their 10-game road trip with a dominant 8-1 win over the D-backs in Phoenix on Sunday, are currently short-staffed in the rotation. Both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are on the 15-day IL with shoulder inflammation and are not expected back imminently.
Los Angeles went 6-4 on its trip through Atlanta, Miami, and Arizona, and will now return home with optimism that one of its greatest pitchers is ready to take the mound once again—on familiar turf, in front of a home crowd, and with history within reach.
A Historic Milestone Awaits
Kershaw’s next start won’t just be meaningful for the Dodgers; it will also tie him with franchise icons Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the most seasons played in team history at 18. Since the team’s move to Los Angeles in 1958, only Russell and Kershaw have reached that milestone entirely in Dodger blue.
In an era when few players spend their entire careers with one team, Kershaw remains a rare exception. The 10-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner has spent his entire Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Dodgers, winning an MVP Award and helping deliver a World Series title in 2020.
He enters 2025 with 212 career wins and a 2.50 ERA across more than 2,700 innings. His career 156 ERA+ ranks first all-time among pitchers with at least 2,000 innings. Now just 32 strikeouts shy of the 3,000 milestone, Kershaw’s legacy as one of the greatest pitchers of his generation is firmly secured.