Clayton Kershaw, who was born on March 19, 1988, is a professional baseball pitcher from the United States who is widely considered to be one of the best left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. Kershaw has won a lot of Cy Young Awards, MVP awards, and World Series titles during his nearly 20-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His signature curveball, perfect control, and competitive spirit have made the Dodgers the best team in baseball for a long time, even though injuries and criticism in the postseason have added to his legacy.
Life as a teenager and in high school
Clayton Edward Kershaw was born in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in a family that loved sports. His parents, Marianne and Christopher Kershaw, split up when he was young, and his mother raised him most of the time. Kershaw went to Highland Park High School in Dallas, where he was a great pitcher and first baseman. He was a senior in 2006 and had a 13–0 record with a 0.77 ERA. He struck out 139 batters in 64 innings. He was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year and became a top prospect because he was so good.
In the 2006 MLB Draft, the Detroit Tigers picked Kershaw with the seventh overall pick. He had already verbally committed to Texas A&M, but he chose to skip college and sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers for a $2.3 million bonus. Kershaw began his professional career at the young age of 18, which would make him a legend in baseball.
First Years (2008–2010)
At 20 years old, Kershaw made his MLB debut on May 25, 2008. At the time, he was the youngest player in the league. He had trouble with control at first, walking 52 batters in 107.2 innings, but he also had some great moments, like a 4.26 ERA and 100 strikeouts. In 2009, he was a full-time starter, and in 2010 he was named an All-Star for the first time. He finished the season with a 2.79 ERA.
The Dominance Era (2011–2015)
Kershaw started a historic period in 2011. He won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award in 2011 with a record of 21–5, an ERA of 2.28, and 248 strikeouts. He was the youngest winner since Dwight Gooden in 1985. He did it again in 2013 (1.83 ERA, the best in the majors) and 2014 (1.77 ERA), making him one of only three players to win three times, along with Randy Johnson and Sandy Koufax.
Kershaw won the rare pitching Triple Crown in 2014, leading the NL in wins (21), ERA (1.77), and strikeouts (239). He was also named NL MVP, making him the first pitcher to win both awards in the same season since Bob Gibson in 1968. His curveball, which spun at more than 3,000 RPM, became impossible to hit because of its sharp 12–6 break.
Championships and Challenges (2016–2020)
He started to get hurt more and more, and back problems kept him from starting more than 21 games in 2016. Even so, Kershaw stayed at the top of his game and was named an All-Star every year. The Dodgers made it to the World Series in 2017 and 2018, but they lost. Kershaw’s playoff performances were criticized because his career playoff ERA was higher than his regular-season ERA.
It was in 2020 that things really started to change. In a pandemic-shortened season, Kershaw went 6–2 with a 2.16 ERA. The Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series, and Kershaw won two games in the series, including the important Game 5 start. Finally, he shut up the naysayers and won his first ring.
Later Years and Strength (2021–Present)
Kershaw chose not to sign a new contract after 2020, but he did sign a one-year deal with the Dodgers, which he did again. He made 22 starts in 2021 and had a 3.55 ERA before elbow pain ended his season. He came back for another great year in 2022 (12–3, 2.28 ERA in 22 starts) and signed on for 2023.
In 2023, Kershaw’s mother, Marianne, died, which was a tragedy off the field. He could only make seven starts because of injuries to his forearm and shoulder. In November 2023, he had surgery on his left shoulder and knee.
As of 2025, Kershaw, who is now 37, is on the mend. He signed a new one-year deal with the Dodgers in March 2025, with a player option for 2026, which showed that he wanted to stay. His fastball has slowed down a bit in the last few years (it now averages 90–92 mph), but his command and curveball are still strong. Fans of the Dodgers can’t wait for him to come back, which could happen in mid-2025.
Signature Pitch and Style
Kershaw has a four-seam fastball that goes 90–93 mph, a deadly slider, and his signature curveball, which drops 12–6 and makes a lot of people miss. His delivery, which includes a high leg kick and tricky arm action, does a great job of hiding the ball. Analysts praise his ability to throw pitches that go through the strike zone and make weak contact.
Personal Life and Giving Back
Kershaw wed his high school sweetheart, Ellen Melson, in 2010. Cali Ann, Charley, Cooper, and Chance are the couple’s four kids. They started Kershaw’s Challenge together, a nonprofit that has raised millions for orphanages in Zambia and poor kids in Los Angeles. Kershaw, who is a devout Christian, often says that his faith helps him keep going.
Inheritance
Clayton Kershaw is going to be in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. He was great in the regular season, just like Koufax, who he looked up to as a kid. In the past, stories about the postseason overshadowed his greatness, but the 2020 title and his consistent brilliance have made him a legend. Kershaw, who is 37 years old, is still a force for the Dodgers. He is going for 220 wins and maybe another ring before he returns in 2025. In a time when speed and statistics are important, Kershaw’s art is still a sign of great pitching.
