Clayton Kershaw Biography

Clayton Edward Kershaw, born on March 19, 1988, is an American former professional baseball pitcher who has played 18 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball. As a left-handed starting pitcher, Kershaw earned 11 National League All-Star selections, won three Cy Young Awards, and was named the 2014 National League Most Valuable Player. He was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft, chosen seventh overall in the draft process. In 2011, Kershaw achieved the pitching Triple Crown and received the National League Cy Young Award, becoming the youngest pitcher to accomplish either of these feats since Dwight Gooden in 1985. His postseason performance included a 4.62 earned run average across 196 and two-thirds innings pitched, a record that reflects his regular-season dominance. Kershaw played high school baseball at Highland Park High School, where he also served as center on the varsity football team alongside future NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford. He began his professional career with the Great Lakes Loons in 2007, posting a 7–5 record and a 2.77 ERA during his time with the team.