On Saturday, one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in Major League Baseball history returned to the mound after a long absence. Despite missing Clayton Kershaw for the first 45 games of the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers entered the day leading the National League West with a 29-16 record.
Kershaw’s last pitch came on August 30, 2024, against the Arizona Diamondbacks. That was his seventh start of the season before he was sidelined with a bone spur in his left big toe.
Many questioned whether Kershaw would ever pitch again for the Dodgers, but he put those fears to rest when he re-signed with the team on February 13. From there, it was simply a matter of rehabbing and getting ready for his return to the mound.
MLB responded to the iconic southpaw’s return with a social media post:
“Welcome Back, Clayton Kershaw!”
Standing at 6-foot-4, the veteran left-hander turned 37 in March and made his 430th career start against the Angels on Saturday. He entered the game with a career record of 212-94.
Kershaw has been named to the National League All-Star Game ten times over the course of his impressive career. He was instrumental in the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series victory, and despite being on the roster again in 2024, he was unable to pitch due to injury.
Kershaw has won three National League Cy Young Awards, the most recent in 2014. His return for the 2025 season marked his 18th consecutive season with the Dodgers, tying the franchise record for longest tenure by a single player.
With that, he became the 59th player in MLB history to spend at least 18 seasons with the same team, cementing his place among the game’s most devoted and accomplished players.
