The Los Angeles Dodgers transferred Clayton Kershaw to the 60-day injured list as one of the two corresponding moves to select the contract of Matt Sauer. Justin Wrobleski was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in order to place Sauer on the active roster.
Sauer was a non-roster invitee to big league camp in Spring Training this year and earned a spot on the Dodgers travel roster for Japan. While Sauer did not make the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, he had still remained with the team in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, Kershaw was among nine pitchers who started the season on the Dodgers’ injured list. Two of them — Brusdar Graterol and Michael Grove — were immediately put on the 60-day injured list.
That was part of corresponding moves the Dodgers made to make room their 40-man roster for the additions to Luis Garcia and Roki Sasaki. Graterol isn’t expected to pitch until after the All-Star break and Grove will miss the entire season due to having right shoulder surgery this year.
Kershaw also is facing a long road to recovery from offseason surgeries on his left foot and knee. The Dodgers have not provided a specific timeline, but the Hall of Famer wasn’t expected to return before May at the earliest.
By being transferred to the 60-day IL, Kershaw won’t be eligible to get activated until May 17.
Despite facing a delayed start to the season for the second consecutive year, Kershaw continued to put off retirement. He re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year, $7.5 million contract that includes incentives.
Part of Kershaw’s motivation in returning for an 18th season with the Dodgers is wanting to contribute to a World Series winner and being encouraged by the status of his left shoulder that was surgically repaired in the winter of 2023.
Clayton Kershaw close to 3,000 career strikeouts
Kershaw remains the longest-tenured Dodgers player on the roster at 18 seasons. He’s ahead of Austin Barnes, who leads position players in his 11th season. Chris Taylor is in his 10th season with the Dodgers.
Once Kershaw makes a start in 2025, his 18 seasons will tie with Zack Wheat and Bill Russell for most by a single player in Dodgers franchise history.
Another milestone for Kershaw to reach this season is 3,000 career strikeouts. He’s 32 strikeouts away from joining a rare group of pitchers.
Only 19 pitchers in MLB history have recorded 3,000 strikeouts, and just four (Walter Johnson, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton and John Smoltz) have achieved the milestone with one team.
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