Clayton Kershaw, one of the most iconic pitchers in Major League Baseball history, is set to retire at the end of the 2025 season. The Los Angeles Dodgers announced the news Thursday, confirming that the three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP will make his final regular-season start 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 said in a statement.
Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Announces Retirement
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Kershaw, 37, has spent his entire 18-year career with Los Angeles since being drafted in the first round in 2006. Over that span, he became the franchise’s all-time strikeout leader, joined the 3,000-strikeout club in July, and collected 222 career wins—second only to Don Sutton in Dodgers history.
“The Dodgers have stuck with me, too,” Kershaw reflected after reaching 3,000 strikeouts. “It hasn’t been all roses, I know that…I’m super grateful now, looking back, to get to say that I spent my whole career here and I will spend my whole career here.”
October Heartbreak and Glory
Kershaw’s career has been defined by both postseason anguish and triumph. He was the face of October near-misses until finally breaking through with the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series win. When Los Angeles secured another title in 2024, followed by a long-awaited parade, Kershaw was visibly emotional: “This is the best thing I’ve ever been a part of,” he said.
Numbers That Define Greatness
Statistically, Kershaw belongs among the all-time greats. His 2.54 career ERA is the lowest for any pitcher with at least 2,000 innings since 1972. His 154 ERA+ ties him with Pedro Martínez, underscoring his dominance across different offensive eras.
The Final Chapter
Even in his last season, Kershaw remained effective, posting a 3.53 ERA over 20 starts while evolving his repertoire. Manager Dave Roberts summed up the moment best: “To continue to fight back, come back, show up and post, that’s hard to do…every box for him has been checked.”
On Friday, fans will bid farewell to No. 22 at Chavez Ravine, where his high leg kick and signature curveball have defined an era of Los Angeles baseball.