Clayton Kershaw is a former professional baseball player who spent his entire career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was known for his dominant pitching, winning three Cy Young Awards and one National League MVP award during his career. Kershaw was also a seven-time All-Star and helped lead the Dodgers to eight division titles and two National League pennants.
Kershaw was born in Dallas, Texas in 1988 and was a standout athlete in high school, excelling in both baseball and football. He was selected by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft and quickly rose through the ranks of the team's minor league system.
Kershaw made his major league debut in 2008 and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the game. He won his first Cy Young Award in 2011, posting a 21-5 record with a 2.28 ERA and 248 strikeouts. He followed that up with another Cy Young Award in 2013, going 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA and 232 strikeouts.
In 2014, Kershaw won his third Cy Young Award, becoming the first pitcher in over a decade to win the award in consecutive seasons. He finished the year with a 21-3 record, a 1.77 ERA, and 239 strikeouts. Kershaw also won the National League MVP award that year, becoming the first pitcher to win the award since 1968.
Kershaw continued to dominate on the mound in the following years, but struggled with injuries at times. He missed significant time in 2016 and 2017 with back injuries, but bounced back in 2018 to win his ninth consecutive Gold Glove award and his second National League ERA title.
In 2020, Kershaw helped lead the Dodgers to their first World Series championship since 1988. He won two games in the series, including the decisive Game 6, and was named the World Series MVP.
Kershaw announced his retirement from baseball in November 2021, ending a 14-year career that saw him establish himself as one of the greatest pitchers of his generation. He finished his career with a 186-79 record, a 2.43 ERA, and 2,526 strikeouts.
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