3x World Series Winner Clayton Kershaw Opens up on Decision to Retire From MLB

Clayton Kershaw spent all 18 seasons of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and won 3 World Series titles in 2020, 2024 and 2025.

3x World Series Winner Clayton Kershaw Opens up on Decision to Retire From MLB

Clayton Kershaw (Image via Newsweek)

Clayton Kershaw‘s baseball career is almost done. After the World Baseball Classic, the 11-time All-Star will not have a season to look forward to, as he announced his MLB retirement last year. Ahead of the WBC with Team USA, he opened up about his decision to call it a day on his career.

In September 2025, Kershaw revealed his intention to retire from MLB. The Dallas-born star joined the Dodgers in 2006 through the MLB draft and made his debut for them two years later in 2008.

The southpaw ended up spending 18 seasons with the team and winning almost everything. In 2011, he won the Triple Crown while claiming his first Cy Young Award. In 2014, he was named the National League MVP and even pitched a no-hitter that year.

It was in 2020 when he finally got his hands on the World Series trophy. The Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the COVID-shortened season to claim their first championship since 1988. He added two more rings to his collection as he and the Dodgers went back-to-back in 2024 and 2025.

In his final season, the 37-year-old joined the 3,000 strikeout club. He became the 20th pitcher to reach this milestone and just the 5th player to do so with one team. He finished his final season on a strong term, going 11-2 with a 3.36 ERA.

Kershaw would later stun the world by committing to Team USA for the World Baseball Classic. Ahead of this international tournament, he sat down for an interview with Pat McAfee and his crew. During this conversation, he opened up about his decision to retire.

My velo kind of stopped going up, you know, about six or seven years ago. And then slowly the deterioration happened. So I don’t think it was like a one-year thing. I think it was just over time … I love the Dodgers so much. I would have played as long as my arm would have let me. But I think this is my arm told me it was time.

Clayton Kershaw told Pat McAfee

There was a dip in Kershaw’s velocity and longevity. In the postseason, he had a very limited role and pitched just 2.1 innings, with 0.1 innings coming in the 18-inning Game 3 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, where he recorded an out to leave the bases loaded in the 12th inning.

Clayton Kershaw compares Shohei Ohtani’s stardom in Japan to Beatlemania

During this interview with Pat McAfee, Clayton Kershaw spoke highly of his former Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Shohei Ohtani. While he did not reveal any secrets regarding him, the future MLB Hall of Famer compared Ohtani’s stardom in Japan to the huge fan following of The Beatles.

Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani
Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani (Image via Sports Illustrated/The Guardian)

Ohtani has become a massive name not just in Japan but in America as well. His two-way status along with the success of the Dodgers has seen a huge surge in his fan following.

A few days back, fans would sell out a stadium in Japan as he took part in some batting practice. The 4-time MLB MVP would put on a show for them as he slugged the ball over the outfield again and again.

While speaking about him with McAfee, Kershaw lauded Ohtani for his ability to handle the overwhelming attention from the Japanese fans and media.

He does such a good job of handling all that. I don’t know how he does everything that he does. We went to Tokyo last year, we opened up Opening Day in Tokyo last year and that was wild. I think it was probably like what the Beatles were.

Clayton Kershaw on Shohei Ohtani

Ohtani will be leading Team Japan once again this year. Under his leadership in 2023, Japan won the tournament by defeating Team USA 3-2 in the final. The final out of the event saw Ohtani strike out his then-teammate and Team USA captain Mike Trout in the bottom of the 9th inning.

This year, the 31-year-old will not pitch in the WBC. This was something the Dodgers wanted from him and their other Japanese stars. The reigning National League MVP will thus just play as the designated hitter and will not take to the mound.

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