#clayton-kershaw

#clayton-kershaw

Less than two years later, the 20-year-old made his major league debut, giving up two runs and striking out seven in six innings as he fired 97 mph fastballs and a big curveball, impressing then-Dodgers manager Joe Torre. "He's the real deal," the Hall of Fame skipper said. Kershaw was still a work in progress, working on his command and relying almost exclusively on only those two pitches until he started throwing his slider the following season.

Kershaw said he'll miss baseball, but he has also been looking forward to spending more time with his family, and it was presumed he wouldn't be around the game for a bit. During his retirement press conference, the 37-year-old said he would have plenty of things to keep him occupied outside of baseball while referencing his five children. While coaching or a front office role might not be on the horizon for Kershaw, he could perhaps be interested in starting a broadcast career,

Kershaw shared a post with his new daughter, Chloe Peach Kershaw, alongside his wife and four children -- Cali Ann, Charley, Cooper and Chance. Noted Dodgers fan and tennis legend Billie Jean King was among those to congratulate Kershaw in the post's comments. "She's perfect and her brothers and sister are obsessed with her. We are grateful for the gift of her life!" Kershaw wrote in the Instagram post.

In the waning days of Kershaw's career, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman approached him with an offer to stick around as a member of the baseball operations department. Kershaw was flattered by the offer. "I don't think I have any full-time jobs in my future," he said. "Except full-time dad." Kershaw and wife Ellen are expecting a fifth child this winter, so the longtime Dodgers ace is rightfully focused on his family.

As Colletti detailed, Hochevar being available in 2006 pushed back every pitching prospect by one, given that Hochevar went No. 1 overall that year. Four pitchers would be selected after Hochevar, including the Detroit Tigers taking southpaw Andrew Miller right before the Dodgers. If Hochevar had signed with LA the year prior, there would be one less pitcher available, and perhaps the Dodgers wouldn't be able to take Kershaw at No. 7.

The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't have the most ideal circumstances that led to the emergence of catcher Ben Rortvedt, but since he has been up with the team, LA has been pleasantly surprised. From landing a spot in Triple-A Oklahoma City via an under-the-radar trade at the deadline, to eventually catching games for the defending champions of the baseball world looking to get back to the World Series, it has been a whirlwind, to say the least.

Hello everybody, welcome to the Game Thread for the #162 of the 2025 season, which thankfully doesn't hold any playoff significance, but does hold significance because it's the last time Clayton Kershaw will make a regular season start and appearance in his career before he retires.

"That was just so awesome seeing that, and what he did for us," reliever Jack Dreyer said. "For somebody who obviously has been a starter his whole career, he showed that the situation does not matter. He just goes in whatever is asked of him, and just performs. "It's just another reason why he's the best ever. Not only can he be the best starting pitcher ever, but he can come in the ninth, it's a tight game, and just perform like that."