Clayton Kershaw, the stalwart left-hander for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has long been a cornerstone of the franchise. As the 2025 MLB season progresses, questions about his future have become more pressing, especially after he addressed retirement rumors directly in a recent interview.
“I’ll go in a stretch of 10 or 11 good pitches in a row and then make enough bad ones to get some damage done against me. I just need to put it together for a whole game, figure out how to do that, which I think I can do and will do. It just better be soon.”
Kershaw‘s comments might have provided some relief to fans who were bracing for the potential end of an era. However, his acknowledgment that he hasn’t made a definitive decision leaves the door open for continued speculation.
A Season Marked by Uncertainty and Determination
The 2025 season has been a challenging one for Kershaw. After undergoing surgeries during the offseason for knee and toe injuries, his 2025 season debut comes much later in the season. In his first four starts of the 2025 season, Kershaw has yet to record a win, holding a 0-0 record with a 5.17 ERA over 15.2 innings pitched. His most recent outing against the New York Mets saw him allow five runs (three earned) over 4 innings.
Regardin this most recent poor turnout, Kershaw said, “[I just] didn’t make enough good pitches. I got ahead of some guys but then gave up two-strike hits. I walked guys, gave some hard-hit balls, overall, not a great day, but the team did great and bailed me out.”
Despite these challenges, Kershaw has remained a vital part of the Dodgers‘ rotation, providing leadership and experience to a pitching staff that has faced its own set of injuries.
Kershaw‘s commitment to the Dodgers has never been in question. After declining a $10 million player option for the 2025 season, he signed a new one-year deal with the team, emphasizing his desire to continue contributing to the organization that has been his home for nearly two decades.
“I want to be a Dodger for life,” he has said on multiple occasions.
He has previously emphasized that injuries would not dictate the end of his career, stating, “I think not letting an injury be the reason I stop, I think that’s probably the main thing. I don’t want (my decision to retire) to be because I didn’t rehab an injury well.”
As the season progresses, the focus will remain on Kershaw‘s performance and his health. While he has not set a timeline for making a decision about retirement, the baseball world will undoubtedly be watching closely.
For now, Kershaw continues to take the mound, embodying the resilience and dedication that have defined his illustrious career.
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