After a two-year hiatus, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw has again won the Warren Spahn Award. It’s presented annually to the top left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, which Kershaw has now been anointed four times in his career.
He first won the Warren Spahn Award in 2011, then repeated from 2013-14, but had the streak snapped by Houston Astros lefty Dallas Keuchel in 2015. Chicago Cubs southpaw Jon Lester won the award last season.
Kershaw and Randy Johnson are the only four-time winners of the Warren Spahn Award. “For me, it’s humbling to be put in the same category as some of baseball’s greatest pitchers,” Kershaw said.
“The recipients of the Warren Spahn Award are players who have influenced and inspired so many who love our game of baseball. It’s an incredible honor to be selected as the 2017 recipient of this prestigious award. Thank you to the Bricktown Rotary Club for recognizing my work on the field. I’m thrilled and grateful for this honor.”
The Warren Spahn Award evaluates pitchers on wins, ERA and strikeouts. The Dodgers’ ace went 18-4 with a 2.31 ERA and 202 strikeouts. Kershaw led all left-handed pitchers in ERA (second overall), tied for the lead in wins, and was fourth in strikeouts.
In the postseason, he went 3-0 in six games (five starts), with a 3.82 ERA and 33 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .179/.244/.393 batting line.
The Warren Spahn Award has been given out since 1999. In addition to the aforementioned southpaws, previous winners include Gio Gonzalez (2012), Price (2010), CC Sabathia (2007–2009), Johan Santana (2004, 2006), Dontrelle Willis (2005) and Andy Pettitte (2003).
Kershaw will be presented the hardware during a ceremony on Jan. 31, 2018, in Oklahoma City, home of the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate that he made one rehab start for this season.
