Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw has retired at age 37 after helping his team win the 2025 World Series. The three-time Cy Young Award winner plans to step away from the game to focus on family. Reports indicate he is unlikely to pursue a media role immediately.
Clayton Kershaw announced his retirement following the Los Angeles Dodgers' victory in the 2025 World Series, marking the end of an 18-year career spent entirely with the franchise. The 37-year-old southpaw contributed to the team's third title for him, including a pivotal role in Game 7, where the Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 at Rogers Centre.
Kershaw's decision comes despite his ability to continue pitching at an MLB level, driven by a desire to spend more time with his family amid ongoing injuries. He and his wife are expecting their fifth child. His illustrious resume includes an MVP award, three Cy Young trophies, five ERA titles, a Triple Crown, and reaching 3,000 strikeouts this season, securing his path to the Hall of Fame.
Post-retirement, Kershaw is expected to make a clean break from baseball, casting doubt on immediate transitions to media or front-office roles. Front Office Sports reports he declined a Dodgers front-office job to prioritize family, similar to Derek Jeter's decade-long hiatus before entering punditry. A TV executive noted, 'He’d be great. He’s done a lot of work being mic’d up and had fun on Dodgers and national telecasts. The question now is: Does he want to go right back into it?' Another source described him as 'the overall No. 1 pick on the TV board' for potential analyst positions.
Reflecting on the World Series win at Dodger Stadium, Kershaw expressed gratitude: 'It’s hard to put into words, honestly. I’m just so grateful. The way that my career, this season, has ended has been more than I could have ever hoped for. I’m just a little bit speechless... Have it be at Dodger Stadium, have it be the last one—you can’t script that either. I have to give [manager Dave Roberts] a lot of thanks for that, too, trusting me to do that. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs. So for him to continue to trust in me and trust me in those big moments, it means a lot.'
While opportunities in broadcasting remain open, Kershaw's focus on family suggests a period of rest before any future involvement in the sport.