Three-time Cy Young Award winner and former National League MVP Clayton Kershaw will retire at the end of the 2025 season, the Dodgers announced Thursday.
Kershaw is schedule to make his final Dodger Stadium regular season start on Friday against the rival San Francisco Giants.
“I’m at peace with it. I think it’s the right time,” Kershaw said during a news conference Thursday.
Well known as a devoted family man, the former MVP said he talked about his retirement plans with his wife and children all year, adding he didn’t want to be a distraction to the team.
He also emotionally discussed his love and respect for his teammates, wiping away his tears during the 10-minute news conference.
“You mean so much to me. We have so much fun. I’m going to miss you,” Kershaw said, looking down in an effort not to make eye contacts with his teammates who watched him speak in the media room. “Working out day one in the weight room, listening to crazy music with you guys, shirtless Sundays, I’m going to miss all that. I’m going to miss the flights.”
While the 37-year-old began pitching more this season, the announcement may not be a surprise to his fans and his teammates.
“How grateful I am to have been healthy and be out on the mound, be able to pitch — I think it just made it obvious that this was a good sending off point. I’ve had the best time this year,” he explained.
Kershaw spent the entirety of his 18-season career with the Dodgers, a rare feat in professional sports. He was the 2014 National League MVP and an 11-time All-Star.
The 37-year-old left-hander notched his 3,000th strikeout in July. In August, as the Dodgers’ starting rotation finally got healthy, Kershaw elevated his performance to another level, going 5-0 with a 1.88 ERA that month.
Kershaw is a two-time World Series Champion, winning titles in both 2020 and 2024, and will likely be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Kershaw’s rise to Dodgers stardom began when he was drafted No. 7 overall by the team in 2006. He went on to a career record of 222-96 with 15 shutouts, ranking first in both categories among active big leaguers. His 2.54 career ERA is the lowest in the Live Ball Era, dating to 1920.
He is tied with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for the most years in as a Dodgers in franchise history.
Kershaw’s 222 wins currently rank second in Dodgers franchise history, just 11 behind Don Sutton’s 233.
Kershaw also contributed to the Los Angeles community off the field through community projects and philanthropy. In 2012, he won the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award.
“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 of his profound charitable endeavors,” said Mark Walter, Owner and Chairman, Los Angeles Dodgers. “His is a truly legendary career, one that we know will lead to his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.”
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
