Clayton Kershaw to retire after 2025 season, Dodgers legend confirms
Dodgers left-hander to end storied 18-year run with the franchise that drafted him No. 7 overall in 2006
Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will retire after the 2025 season, the team announced Thursday, ending a 37-year-old career spent entirely in Dodger blue. The left-hander is scheduled to make his final regular-season Dodger Stadium start on Friday against the San Francisco Giants.
Drafted No. 7 overall out of high school in 2006, Kershaw has been among the era's most dominant pitchers, winning three Cy Young Awards and making 11 All-Star appearances. He leaves with a career record of 222-96, a 2.54 ERA and 3,039 strikeouts. A standout season in 2014 saw him post a 1.77 ERA and he earned Cy Young and MVP honors. He helped the Dodgers win World Series titles in 2020 and 2024.
Heading into this season — his 18th — Kershaw owns a 3.53 ERA across 20 starts. Dodgers owner Mark Walter lauded his contributions in a statement, saying Kershaw has given Dodgers fans and baseball fans everywhere memorable moments and that his career will lead to his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The team also noted that his résumé is a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Fame entry.
On behalf of the Dodgers, the team says Kershaw will finish 2025 with a final regular-season Dodger Stadium start against the Giants. He has defined durability and postseason impact across his time in Los Angeles, including a pivotal role during the Dodgers' World Series runs in 2020 and 2024.
