'Kershaw Aims to Make Comeback with Dodgers in 2025'
CALIFORNIA -- The renowned southpaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw, has announced his plans to continue playing for an 18th season in 2025 despite only making seven starts this year, the lowest in his career.
At the age of 36, Kershaw will not be participating in the current postseason due to a bone spur in his right big toe. He was unable to make his regular-season debut until July 25 after undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason.
During the FOX pregame show before Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets, Kershaw stated, \"Unfortunately, my foot caused some setbacks this year. However, I am determined to make the most of my surgery. I don't want to shut down my career, so I will be returning next year to give it my all and see how it goes.\"
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP has been a key member of the Dodgers' rotation, having spent his entire MLB career in Los Angeles.
Kershaw had been playing on one-year contracts in 2022 and 2023 before signing a $5 million deal for 2024 with incentives and a $5 million option for 2025.
In the past season, he had a record of 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA over 30 innings. Throughout his career, he has a record of 212-94 with a 2.50 ERA in 432 appearances (429 starts) since being drafted by the Dodgers in the first round in 2006.
Kershaw's performance in the playoffs has been inconsistent, with a record of 13-13 and an ERA of 4.49 in 39 appearances (32 starts). However, he did earn a save in the 2016 NL Division Series against the Washington Nationals.
With a total of 2,968 strikeouts, Kershaw is just shy of becoming the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000.
--Doug Padilla, Field Level Media
