One of the best pitchers in MLB is still active in 2025. Clayton Kershaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, recorded his 3,000th career strikeout on Wednesday night against the Chicago White Sox. The left-hander became the 20th member of this exclusive club and is just the third pitcher to achieve the feat with a single team. Kershaw added another notable achievement to his baseball resume in his ninth start of the 2025 season.
It was speculated that Kershaw would retire after the 2024 season, but the future Hall of Famer announced that he would return to the Dodgers for another year during the team’s postseason. For the game against Chicago, he stood on the mound at Dodger Stadium with 2,997 strikeouts, so the crowd was certain to witness that glorious moment. The innings went by, but it was not until the sixth inning that he got his third strikeout of the night to make MLB history.
Clayton Kershaw saw it more difficult to reach the 3,000-strikeout mark
For the left-hander born in Arlington, Texas, it was more difficult to strike out the three White Sox on Wednesday than any other player in regular games.
It’s a little bit harder when you’re trying to strike people out. I’ve never had to do that before. And also give credit to the White Sox. They didn’t make it easy for me. So it was a tough night all around, but what a way to end it with Freddie on the key play
Clayton Kershaw highlighted.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the famed pitcher faced Vinny Capara with a count of one ball and two strikes. Catcher Will Smith’s signal was a slider, who accepted the call and with his characteristic pitch struck out the batter for the 3,000th time on the 100th pitch of the night, where he deservedly received an ovation from the Dodgers fans, not only for the feat but also for the heart he has put into his 20-year career in Los Angeles.
Dave Roberts as excited as any fan at Clayton Kershaw’s feat
With the applause and jubilation at Dodger Stadium, it was time for Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts to approach his star pitcher and share a warm embrace, where he later had nothing but praise for the three-time Cy Young Award winner
He’s a great person, a great father, a great husband, a man of faith, a great Dodger. Possibly one of the greatest of all time.
A few days before the end of the first half of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue to lead the National League West Division with a 52-34 record, six games ahead of the San Diego Padres, their main pursuer. But for now, Clayton Kershaw is arguably one of the best pitchers of this generation, and Roberts is also considered one of the best managers in MLB. Both are headed to Cooperstown.
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