In the city of Los Angeles, the birth of a legend is eagerly awaited: Clayton Kershaw, who still has the strength to stay on the MLB mound, but while he remains on the diamond, the press will have to wait for the announcement of his retirement and when it happens there will be a great roar where his image will be permanently etched in the history of the Los Angeles Dodgers as well as in Major League Baseball.
The iconic Dodgers left-hander is not giving up yet, having recently reached the 3,000th strikeout of his career and is only the third pitcher to reach that figure with the same team. With more than 20 years of baseball under his belt, his retirement from the mound is getting closer and closer, so fans have been wondering: will 2025 be his last All-Star Game?
Max Muncy defends Clayton Kershaw’s All-Star Game call
When Rob Manfred, MLB commissioner, selected Clayton Kershaw, his teammate Max Muncy applauded the decision by saying it was the right way to honor a man who has given his all for baseball. The Dodgers third baseman has played alongside Kershaw since 2018 and believes he still has energy. Kershaw’s competitive spirit hasn’t waned; in fact, Muncy insists it still burns brighter than most.
Kershaw himself has not slammed the door shut on retirement, but neither has he thrown it wide open. “I just need to get back to a full game,” he said recently. He acknowledged making the wrong pitches just to take damage, but feels improvement is near. “I think I can do it and I will. Hopefully it will be soon,” he said. Those don’t seem to be the words of someone hanging up their glove just yet.
The legend of Clayton Kershaw is forged in pure gold with the Los Angeles Dodgers
His resume backs it up:
- 438 appearances in his career
- 3 Cy Young Awards
- 1 MVP and a Triple Crown
- 11-time All-Star
- 5 effectiveness titles
- 1 Roberto Clemente Award
He just became the 20th pitcher in history with 3,000 strikeouts, and only the fourth left-hander to do so. His FIP (4.19) may show signs of wear and tear, but his presence still denotes elite. First-ballot Hall of Famers don’t retire mid-sentence; they write the score with postseason pitches.
Despite the “Legendary Selection”, Kershaw has not made any official retirement announcement, nor has he hinted at one in private. In fact, his statement after the game, after striking out Vinny Capra for his 3,000th strikeout, was eloquent. “To say I’ve spent my whole career here… makes me feel a lot more grateful,” he said. That’s reflection, not resignation: gratitude without farewell. He wants to finish in a Dodgers uniform, yes, but not right away.
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