Clayton Kershaw Retires a Champion, But He’s Not Quite Done Yet
Eighteen seasons. Three World Series rings.
One unforgettable career. Clayton Kershaw has officially closed the book on his Major League journey with the Los Angeles Dodgers - but not before delivering one final moment that felt straight out of a storybook.
Though his 2025 postseason was limited to just two appearances, Kershaw still found a way to leave his mark. In Game 3 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, with the score locked at 5-5 in the 12th inning and the bases loaded, Kershaw got the call.
It wasn’t a start. It wasn’t a long relief outing.
It was a high-wire act with no room for error - and he nailed it.
With two outs and the game hanging in the balance, Kershaw induced a groundout from Nathan Lukes to escape the jam. The Dodgers would eventually outlast the Blue Jays 6-5 in an 18-inning marathon, and while the box score might not show it as a win for Kershaw, that one out was vintage - calm under pressure, a reminder of the competitor he’s always been.
What no one realized at the time? That would be the last pitch Kershaw ever threw in a Major League game.
The baseball from that final out was casually tossed into the stands, as is often the case in the heat of the moment. But fate - and a little help from Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman - had other plans.
The fan who caught the ball eventually reached out, and the ball made its way to Kershaw’s home in Dallas. It ended up under the Christmas tree, a gift from his wife, Ellen.
“No authentication or anything - but it looks like the real ball,” Kershaw said. “So I’m going to keep it.”
It’s a fitting end to a career that never needed flash to be legendary. Kershaw’s greatness was always in the details - the curveball that buckled knees, the bulldog mentality, the loyalty to one franchise. And now, he has a piece of that final moment to hold onto forever.
Looking back on the Dodgers’ 2025 title run, Kershaw called it “a fairy tale.” And really, how else could you describe it? A team that repeated as champions, a veteran ace who came through one last time, and a sendoff that felt more like a thank-you note to the game than a goodbye.
But here’s the twist: Kershaw’s not quite done yet.
Though he’s officially retired from MLB, he’ll suit up one more time - this time for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Manager Mark DeRosa extended the invitation, and Kershaw didn’t hesitate. The WBC is one of the few stages he hasn’t pitched on, and now he’ll get the chance to chase a gold medal for his country.
For a pitcher who’s already punched his ticket to Cooperstown, this is about more than accolades. It’s about finishing on his own terms, and adding one last chapter to a career that’s already full of unforgettable moments.
So while Kershaw may have thrown his final pitch in Dodger Blue, don’t be surprised if he’s got a little more magic left in the tank. One more game.
One more shot at glory. And one more reminder of why he’s one of the best to ever do it.