Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers becomes the 20th member of the prestigious 3,000 strikeout club while reaffirming the magnificence of his career.
Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers has become the 20th member of Major League Baseball’s 3,000 strikeout club in a magnificent pitching career that spans 18 seasons. The historic feat was last achieved by right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer in September 2021 while he and Kershaw were teammates on the Dodgers. Kershaw struck out third baseman Vinny Capra of the Chicago White Sox with a slider on a 1-2 count in the top of the sixth inning. His 100th and final pitch of the evening secured a spot in an exclusive pitching fraternity where 14 of the members have won a combined 42 Cy Young Awards. Along with Hall of Fame right-handers Bob Gibson and Walter Johnson, Kershaw is one of three pitchers who have worn one major league uniform and accumulated at least 3,000 strikeouts.
While not factoring into the decision of a 5-4 victory versus the White Sox at Dodger Stadium, the 37-year-old Kershaw joins Hall of Famers Randy Johnson (4,875), Steve Carlton (4,136) and CC Sabathia (3,093) as the only left-handed pitchers among those who have amassed at least 3,000 strikeouts. According to Baseball-Reference, he has struck out 959 different batters over 2,787.1 innings. Former major league first baseman and outfielder Brandon Belt sits atop this list as Kershaw struck him out 30 times over 67 plate appearances. Kershaw’s accomplishment takes on greater significance since he could be one of the last ball players to earn entry into this prestigious club given how starting pitchers are utilized in the modern game.Who’s Next After Clayton Kershaw?
After Kershaw, left-hander Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves is next among active pitchers with 2,528 strikeouts. A veteran of 15 major league seasons, the 2024 National League Cy Young Award winner was recently transferred to the 60-day injured list with a fractured left rib cage. Injuries in recent years have derailed the 36-year-old Sale’s Hall of Fame career trajectory on multiple occasions. Right-handed pitcher Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees is behind Sale on the active list with 2,251 strikeouts.
