Often regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of this generation, Clayton Kershaw announced his retirement from baseball on Thursday. After 18 summers in Los Angeles, he’ll leave Chavez Ravine after this season with a decorated legacy, an appointment with Cooperstown, and some staggering numbers like his career 2.54 ERA, which is the best in the Live Ball Era (since 1920). Some of his teammates had been clued in over the past couple of months, but it wasn’t until Thursday morning when he nudged his team with a heads-up in the group chat that he was ready to announce it. And Kershaw has had the gut feeling over his retirement timeline for some time now.
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Turns out, Clayton Kershaw “kind of knew” entering this season that it could be his last. He avoided going public, just in case he reconsiders. Some expected the 37-year-old veteran to retire after the 2024 season. However, when the Dodgers secured the World Series title, he decided to stay back for the next season. Last year, a persistent toe injury had kept him out of the postseason. Still, his elite pitching and regular-season contributions earned him a second championship ring anyway.
After carrying the Dodgers for nearly two decades, it was only natural to see him fighting back his tears in Thursday’s press conference. “I’m really not sad. I’m really not. I’m really at peace with this. It’s just emotional, and I’ve tried to hold it together. I told our guys not to make it weird today. So, because I was going to get weird if you made it weird, here I am making it weird. So that’s all I have. And just thank you to everybody here that’s covered me over the years.” He said in his wife and kids’ presence.
Further, he added, “I know I’m not the most fun at times. So just, thank you for putting up with me. And that’s all I have. Thank you guys so much for being here.”
Clayton Kershaw chokes up as he talks about his retirement at the end of the season
Dave Roberts knows the drive Kershaw still has in him to go out guns blazing. On Thursday, during an interview, Roberts said in appreciation of the legendary pitcher, “No one does it more right than him… I am just happy that we got the 2020, we got to hoist that World Series Championship trophy. That’s something that was a void. So, he’s got two championships under his belt.” Then Roberts revealed the competitor in Kershaw: “I think he just wants one more crack at the postseason.”
His retirement announcement, however, wasn’t entirely surprising. He’s battled injuries in recent seasons and also began his 2025 season on the injured list. He couldn’t even pitch until May, but when the ace eventually took the mound, he reestablished himself as a reliable anchor for the injury-filled rotation. Although Kershaw’s retirement at the end of the season will be sad for him and the fans alike, he has some sweet moments to look for after he leaves the game.
Clayton Kershaw’s post-retirement plans
The future Hall of Famer was visibly emotional after announcing his retirement. However, it’s bittersweet. Bitter because he’s stepping away from the organization where he has spent nearly 20 years. Sweet because he’s excited to see a life beyond baseball.
In an interview on Thursday, when asked about the role of his wife and kids in the retirement decision, Kershaw said candidly, “It ultimately is Ellen and I, but I have Charlie at the field today, and he’s starting to really understand it and love it, so that plays a part in it. My oldest daughter’s in fifth grade, and she started a new school, and that plays a part in it.”
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Credit: IMAGO
Be it once-in-a-lifetime milestones or any family activities, it has slipped by because of the demanding career. The constant travel and training kept him away for a long time, and he looks forward to staying home more and spending time with his family. Kershaw revealed that in the same interview, “If I’m not at home with them, you have the guilt of, I’m here playing a game for fun, and Ellen’s grinding away with four kids at home.”