Clayton Kershaw’s 2024 season has been nothing short of a scary rollercoaster ride. Recovering from shoulder surgery, he finally made his much-awaited debut on July 25. But as fate would have it, a month later, on August 30, disaster struck again. He had to leave the game in the second inning due to a painful spur in his big toe – a brutal blow not just for Kershaw but also to his team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But Kershaw, as tenacious as ever, kept pushing the limits. He tweaked his spikes to ease the discomfort and tried to throw, but it led to another physical discomfort coming his way and hurdling his recovery. Hence, Clayton Kershaw decided not to fight it; the 38-year-old pitcher won’t be back to the mound this year. While others may have been disheartened at this sudden blow, Kershaw isn’t – he is more than ready to make a comeback and show the world he isn’t done yet.

Clayton Kershaw is optimistic about his 2025 season 

Clayton Kershaw is one of the greatest pitchers in baseball – a three-time National League Cy Young Award winner, he is also a former NL MVP. He has even dominated the mound for over 18 seasons and has only played as a Dodger. Yes, his 2024 season has been marred by injuries, and he’s appeared in just seven games—but Kershaw’s impact on the team is irrefutable. The left-hander has a career ERA of 2.50, with over 430 starts under his belt.

Now, while others are speculating if he is even making a comeback next season, Kershaw just confirmed he sure has his sights right on. “I had some tough luck with my toe this year, but I want to make use of this surgery. I don’t want to have surgery and then shut it down. So I’m going to come back next year and give it a go. See how it goes,” said Clayton Kershaw to Fox. He further added that his shoulder, elbow, and everything else does feel great.

Kershaw’s tenacity for the game just deserves a salute! The Claw’s place in Los Angeles Dodgers cannot be denied; he ranks second on the Dodger’s All-Time wins list with 212 and is also the team’s all-time leader with 2,968 strikeouts. Currently, Clayton is just 32 away from reaching the humongous 3,000 mark. No doubt, the veteran has a solid resume, but whether he will remain with the Dodgers is still a big question.

Will the Dodgers have Kershaw in the bullpen next season?

Clayton Kershaw has always played for the Dodgers, so it’s a given that in 2025, he would want to feel right at home. But the real question is whether the Dodgers would want them in their bullpen for the 2025 season. Kershaw’s 2025 player option is worth $5 million with incentives, and that could add up to $20 million. While he indeed wants to make a return, the Dodgers are currently thriving without his pitching greatness.

For example, take Jack Flaherty’s recent performance in Game 1 of the NLCS—it was simply fantastic. He allowed just two hits over seven shutout innings, earning a standing ovation from the crowd. Dave Roberts, looking at the performance, called it a ‘pitching clinic’—and that says a thousand words. The team’s pitching staff has been spectacular, notching three consecutive shutouts this postseason—a rare feat in baseball history.

With pitchers like Flaherty taking the charge, the Dodgers clearly haven’t missed a beat. Even on days when Shohei Ohtani has no big numbers, the pitching staff is carrying the game forward. So, do you think Clayton Kershaw, who remains a veteran pitcher on the team, will find his place next season? Share in the comments.