Clayton Kershaw has been with the Los Angeles Dodgers for his entire professional career, spanning 18 seasons from his debut in 2008 through the 2025 season, which he announced as his final year.
Career Tenure
Kershaw was drafted by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2006 MLB Draft with the seventh overall pick. He made his Major League debut on May 25, 2008, at the age of 20, and remained with the team for all 18 of his MLB seasons. His longevity with a single franchise ties him for the longest tenure in Dodgers history, matching Zack Wheat and Bill Russell.
Legacy and Final Season
In February 2025, Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year contract, marking his 18th season with the team and making him the 59th player in MLB history to spend 18 seasons with one franchise. He reached the milestone of 3,000 career strikeouts on July 2, 2025, becoming the fifth pitcher to achieve this with a single team. On September 18, 2025, he announced his retirement, stating he was “at peace with it” and that “it’s the right time”. His final MLB start was on September 28, 2025, against the Seattle Mariners.
Achievements with the Dodgers
Over his career, Kershaw became a three-time Cy Young Award winner, the 2014 NL MVP, and a World Series champion in 2020. He holds a career 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts, both recorded exclusively with the Dodgers. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, he is expected to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer [
