Looking at Kershaw's retirement, the best player in L.A. history, Ohtani also imagines eight years later

Sep 20, 2025

Looking at Kershaw's retirement, the best player in L.A. history, Ohtani also imagines eight years later
LA Dodgers Clayton Kershaw and Shohei Ohtani. ImagesYonhap News



Looking at Kershaw's retirement, the best player in L.A. history, Ohtani also imagines eight years later
Clayton Kershaw listens to reporters' questions at a retirement press conference in the Dodger Stadium press room on the 19th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
I think Clayton Kershaw is the greatest player in LA Dodgers history.

Including Brooklyn, no player has made great achievements for the individual and the team as much as Kershaw.

Bill Plaschke, a renowned columnist for the Los Angeles Times, wrote in a column titled `Clayton Kershaw retires after leaving the greatest legacy in Dodgers history' on the 19th (Korean time) `He played longer than Sandy Koufax, did more than Fernando Valenzuela, and was more impactful than any other hitter in the Dodgers' 67-year LA history`He is not only a Dodgers player but also the greatest in the history of LA, just like Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers), who made the Hall of Fame after changing the franchise culture throughout his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.'




Looking at Kershaw's retirement, the best player in L.A. history, Ohtani also imagines eight years later
Clayton Kershaw officially announced his retirement. Photo = LA Dodgers' official X account
Koufax has been mainly cited as the greatest pitcher in Dodgers history. He made his major league debut in 1955 and played for the Dodgers for 12 years until his retirement in 1966. He is famous for having a short and intense career. He won three Cy Young Awards, one MVP, and four no-hitter. He also won the World Series twice. He is also the No. 1 ERA for the fifth consecutive year and has four strikeouts.

Koufax, who went 165-87 with a 2.76 ERA and 2396 strikeouts in his career, took off his uniform in 1966, when he received his third Cy Young Award. The reason for Koufax's sudden retirement was an elbow injury. If Tommy John Surgery had been developed earlier, Koufax might have set more records.

Kershaw recorded 222-96 losses with a 2.54 ERA and 3039 strikeouts in his 18-year career in the Major League. Three Cy Young Awards and one MVP are the same as Koufax. Five ERA titles, three strikeouts, as well as two World Series wins, are similar in weight to Koufax. However, as Plaschke mentioned, it is true that he is greater than Koufax in that he has devoted himself to the Dodgers for a much longer period of time.




Kershaw is expected to achieve his entry into the Hall of Fame in 2031, which will only be eligible five years after retirement. I think we need to get close to 100% approval in the first year of the eligibility for induction.

Mariano Rivera is the only unanimous inductee in Hall of Fame history in 2019, and Kershaw is by no means unlikely to follow. There have been cases where one to three players have left, such as Derek Jeter in 2020, Ichiro Suzuki this year, and Ken Griffey Jr. in 2016, but it will be difficult for anyone to object to Kershaw.

After his name, Kershaw created a charity called `Kershaw's Challenge' and actively participated in charity activities with his wife Ellen, winning the Roberto Clement Award (2012) and the Branch Ricky Award (2013).




Looking at Kershaw's retirement, the best player in L.A. history, Ohtani also imagines eight years later
Clayton Kershaw is delighted with his teammates after winning against San Francisco on the 19th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
Looking at Kershaw's retirement, the best player in L.A. history, Ohtani also imagines eight years later
The Dodger Stadium press room where the Clayton Kershaw retirement press conference was held on the 19th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News
On the 19th, when Kershaw held a retirement press conference, not only reporters but also Dodgers officials and players attended and filled the Dodger Stadium press room. However, there was a player standing at the back of the les room, sticking out his face carefully and listening to Kershaw. It's Shohei Ohtani.

In fact, Kershaw and Ohtani don't have much contact. In 2018, when Ohtani entered the Major League, Kershaw was going through his prime, and it's only been two years since he was a teammate with the Dodgers. However, after joining the Dodgers, Ohtani said, `I'm honored that I've become a team like Kershaw and I'll have a chance to learn a lot.'

As a pitcher, Kershaw was one step ahead of Ohtani. Ohtani threw 23 curves out of 87 pitches in five innings at home against the Cincinnati Reds on the 28th of last month. Ohtani has never thrown so many curves. At the time, Ohtani was learning so much from Kershaw. In particular, I watch the day he takes the mound carefully. " Kershaw is a master of curves.

Ohtani signed a 10-year contract with the Dodgers and will play in Dodger Blue until 2033. Since he is turning 39 years old, it is unlikely that he will extend his active duty thereafter. Ohtani may have imagined himself eight years later while watching Kershaw's retirement press conference.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.