There’s a new member of the three,000-strikeout membership. On Wednesday night time, Los Angeles Dodgers icon Clayton Kershaw grew to become the twentieth pitcher in baseball historical past to document 3,000 profession strikeouts, and solely the fourth left-hander. He fanned Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox for the milestone strikeout within the prime of the sixth.
Right here is Kershaw’s historic 3,000th strikeout:
The milestone pitch was an 85.3-mph slider that caught the skin nook for strike three in opposition to Capra. It was Kershaw’s one centesimal and closing pitch of the night time — the primary time he’d registered 100 pitches in a begin since 2023.
Subsequent got here the Dodger Stadium curtain name:
Total, Kershaw on Wednesday went six innings and allowed 4 runs, all earned, on 9 hits with three strikeouts and a stroll. On the time of his exit, the Dodgers trailed 4-2 (CHW-LAD GameTracker). Kershaw on the season now has a 3.43 ERA after 9 begins and 44 ⅔ innings.
Now 37, Kershaw’s first big-league strikeout got here as a 20-year-old on Might 25, 2008, when he bought Skip Schumaker, then with the St. Louis Cardinals, to swing for the third strike. Schumaker was the primary hitter Kershaw confronted within the large leagues after Los Angeles chosen him with the No. 7 total decide within the 2006 beginner draft.
Corridor of Famer Nolan Ryan is baseball’s all-time strikeout king. He fanned an unbelievable 5,714 batters in a profession that spanned elements of 27 seasons from 1966-93. Randy Johnson (4,875), Roger Clemens (4,672), and Steve Carlton (4,136) are the one different pitchers within the 4,000-strikeout membership. Kershaw will be a part of Carlton, Johnson, and Ryan within the Corridor of Fame in just a few years.
Right here is the all-time strikeout leaderboard amongst left-handed pitchers:
- Randy Johnson: 4,875
- Steve Carlton: 4,136
- CC Sabathia: 3,093
- Clayton Kershaw: 3,000 (and counting)
- Mickey Lolich: 2,832
Justin Verlander (3,471) and Max Scherzer (3,419) are the opposite energetic pitchers within the 3,000-strikeout membership. The closest to becoming a member of them is Atlanta Braves lefty and reigning NL Cy Younger winner Chris Sale. Sale has 2,528 profession strikeouts and must proceed taking part in one other few years to affix Kershaw within the 3,000-strikeout membership.
Kershaw made his 2025 debut on Might 17 after present process knee and toe surgical procedures final fall. Accidents, together with shoulder surgical procedure, restricted him to solely seven begins final season. Kershaw didn’t pitch within the postseason because the Dodgers gained the eighth World Collection title in franchise historical past, and the second of Kershaw’s profession (additionally 2020).
For a number of seasons now, Kershaw has been taking issues year-to-year, and it is unclear how for much longer he’ll play. If he continues taking part in and his well being cooperates, he might climb as excessive as 14th on the all-time strikeout list by the tip of subsequent season. Solely 9 pitchers have 3,500 profession strikeouts.
A 3-time Cy Younger winner and former MVP, Kershaw has a profession 216-94 document and a couple of.51 ERA in 18 seasons. These 18 seasons are tied with Invoice Russell and Zack Wheat for probably the most in Dodgers historical past.
