A native of Dallas, Texas, Clayton Kershaw has become synonymous with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization behind pitching 18 seasons for the team.
While that will continue to be the case well into the future, 2025 is the last season the baseball world gets to witness Kershaw take the mound in a Dodgers uniform after the 37-year-old announced his intention to retire.
It was a decision that Kershaw said he is “at peace with” and “not sad” about, but an emotionally-charged choice to make nonetheless.
His role on the Dodgers roster for the postseason is uncertain due to the surplus of starting pitching. But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts envisions a scenario where the left-hander has a place on the 26-man postseason roster.
Dodgers react to Clayton Kershaw’s retirement
Max Muncy
Of the active Dodgers players, Max Muncy has been Kershaw’s teammate the longest. The pair have played nine seasons together, with Muncy joining the Dodgers in 2018.
“I know he’s saying it and I know it’s kind of a reality, but I still don’t know that I believe it,” Muncy said. “For as long as I’ve been here, it’s been 22. It’s a weird day, kind of a strange day.
“But at the end of the day, it’s one of the best careers that we’ve ever seen. For me personally, having gotten to play behind him for eight, nine years now, it’s truly a blessing to be able to witness that.”
To Muncy, the most impressive thing about being teammates with Kershaw is how he inspires others to follow his lead.
“To me, he’s just always been the guy that sets the example,” Muncy said. “He shows up, he gets his work in, he’s going to work as hard as he possibly can and he’s going to leave it all out there.
“When that’s over, he’s going to have some fun, he’s going to joke around, he’s going to keep guys light but he’s also going to keep guys focused on the game.”
Freddie Freeman
Freddie Freeman had plenty of battles against Kershaw in the batter’s box over the years. As two of the best players in the sport, it was a heavyweight matchup every time they faced each other.
As teammates, Freeman got to know Kershaw on a deeper level and came away impressed with how he carried himself on and off the field.
“You’re in awe when playing in against him, and I got to play against him for 12 years. Every time you step in the box it is not fun,” Freeman said.
“And then you come over here and you see his daily work ethic, day in and day out. What he does on and off the field, in the community, not only for Los Angeles, but Dallas and all over the world, I think we’ve barely scratched the surface of emotions.”
Dave Roberts
With the timing of his announcement, Kershaw wanted to give fans a chance to say goodbye while also not being a distraction as the Dodgers chase another World Series championship. Roberts said it was the perfect way to handle the sendoff.
“He and Ellen nailed it,” Roberts said. “And I even told him when he said it, I love the way that they’re doing it for the fans, the media.
“They earned it, they deserved it. Instead of kind of pulling whatever adage and kind of saying goodbye after the season and not getting a chance to say goodbye. This is great.”
Ben Rortvedt
Ben Rortvedt has only been with the Dodgers for a short time, but doesn’t take the opportunity to be teammates with Kershaw for granted.
“I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about him,” he said. “It’s super cool that now I have caught him and to be able to call him a teammate of mine.
“I seriously have nothing but great things to say about him, his character, his competitiveness. It’s just honor to be able to share the field with him, and to be able to now see him retire, is extremely special.”
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