Clayton Kershaw
Encyclopedia
Clayton Edward Kershaw is a left-handed
pitcher
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
of Major League Baseball
.
In 2011, Kershaw won the Pitching Triple Crown
and the National League Cy Young Award
, becoming the youngest pitcher to accomplish either of these feats since Dwight Gooden
in 1985. Being a left-handed strikeout pitcher and playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers
, Kershaw has often been compared to Hall of Fame
pitcher Sandy Koufax
.
, where he established himself as an elite high school prospect in 2006 when he posted a 13–0 record with an ERA
of 0.77, and recorded 139 strikeout
s in 64 innings. In a playoff game against Justin Northwest High School, Kershaw pitched an all-strikeout perfect game. He was selected by USA Today
as "High School Baseball Player of the Year", and was also the Gatorade National Player of the Year
for baseball. Kershaw was also friends with future Detroit Lions
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford
.
Entering the 2006 MLB Draft
, Kershaw was considered the top high-schooler available. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Kershaw with the 7th overall pick in the draft. He turned down a scholarship at Texas A&M
to sign with the Dodgers, with a bonus estimated at $2.3 million. The $2.3 million bonus was the largest to any Dodgers amateur at the time, which was eventually topped by Zach Lee in the 2010 MLB Draft
.
Dodgers. He pitched in 37 innings in which he struck out 54 batters (walking
only 5), while compiling a record of 2–0 with a 1.95 ERA. He featured a 93–94 mph fastball
(topping out at 96 mph). He was rated as the No.1 prospect in the GCL, and the Dodgers' No. 2 prospect by Baseball America
behind third basemen Andy LaRoche
.
In two starts in 2006, he fanned 21 batters in 11 innings from July 29-August 3.
Kershaw entered the 2007 season as the top prospect in the Dodgers' system, according to Baseball America. That year, for the Great Lakes Loons
, Kershaw recorded a record of 7–5 with a 2.77 earned run average and was selected to play on the East Team in the Midwest League
All Star Game. He also was selected to appear in the All-Star Futures Game
for the USA Team. On August 6, he was promoted to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
in the Southern League
, where he produced a 1–2 record and 3.65 ERA in 5 starts.
During spring training in a game against the Boston Red Sox
, Kershaw gained much attention for throwing a remarkable 1:7 curveball
to Sean Casey that started behind Casey but at the end looped into the strike zone
and struck him out looking, which announcer Vin Scully
dubbed "Public Enemy No. 1." Kershaw was 0–3 and had a 2.28 ERA with 47 strikeouts through 43.1 innings pitched in his first stint of the year with the Jacksonville Suns. He was then called up to the majors, but optioned back to Jacksonville on July 2, 2008.
Kershaw pitched 18 innings during his second trip to Jacksonville (two starts and one 7-inning relief appearance), winning two games. During this stretch, he allowed only 2 runs earned run
s, lowering his ERA to 1.91. He was recalled on July 22.
debut in 1995
. He made his debut on May 25, starting against the St. Louis Cardinals
. He pitched six innings, allowed two runs and recorded seven strikeouts. When he debuted, Kershaw was the youngest player in Major League Baseball, a title he held for one full year. The following week, during an interview with Eric Karros, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols
said Kershaw had "unhittable stuff".
Kershaw won his first major league game against the Washington Nationals
on July 27, 2008. He pitched six-plus shutout innings, allowing four hits, a walk, and struck out five. Kershaw finished his rookie season 5-5, with a 4.26 ERA
in 22 games (21 starts).
. On May 17, 2009, Kershaw had a no-hitter against the Florida Marlins
through 7 innings, then gave up a lead-off double to Florida's Cody Ross
. Due to 2nd half struggles from Chad Billingsley
and injuries to Hiroki Kuroda
, Kershaw became the de facto ace for the Dodgers at the age of 21. He responded by posting a 2.27 ERA in the second half of the season.
In 2009, despite an 8–8 record, he led the major leagues in opposing batting average
(.200), opposing slugging percentage (.282), and hits
per nine innings (6.26). He also posted an ERA
of 2.79 and 185 strikeout
s. Kershaw also walked 91 batters, which was second most in the National League.
He made his playoff starting debut against the St. Louis Cardinals
and Adam Wainwright
in the 2009 National League Division Series
. He went 6.2 IP, striking out 4, walking 1, and ended up getting a no-decision (Dodgers went on to win the game in the 9th inning). At 21 years old, he was the youngest pitcher to start a playoff game since Rick Ankiel
did so in 2000 at the age of 20.
, the Dodgers and Kershaw had hefty expectations coming into 2010. Kershaw started the season to mixed reviews. In April, he posted a 3.07 ERA, but did so by walking 22 batters in 29 innings. On May 4th, Kershaw had his worst start of his career against the Milwaukee Brewers
at Dodger Stadium
. Kershaw threw 57 pitches in just 1 1/3 innings and retired only four of the 13 batters he faced -- including the pitcher and was booed loudly upon being pulled from the game. Kershaw said after the game, "I didn't give our team any kind of chance. It's just not a good feeling to let your teammates down, let everybody down. It stings, it hurts. I've got to figure things out."
Kershaw rebounded his next start by pitching an 8 inning two-hitter and out-dueling the then undefeated Ubaldo Jiménez
. He went on to go 11-7 with a 2.68 ERA for the remainder of the season. Kershaw credited his control of the slider
being the major turning point for him. Later in the season, he was suspended for five games after hitting Aaron Rowand
of the rival San Francisco Giants
with a pitch in a game on July 20. The incident occurred after both teams were given a warning following Giants ace Tim Lincecum
hitting Matt Kemp
earlier in the game. He threw his first career complete game shutout on September 14, also against San Francisco. He finished the season with a record of 13–10 and a 2.91 ERA in 32 starts, pitching a career best 204.1 innings and recording 212 strikeouts.
, 8–0; he also had two singles and an RBI, scoring twice, in the game. Kershaw produced his third career shutout on June 20, a two-hit, 11 strikeout effort against the Detroit Tigers
. This game was of significance because Kershaw became the first Dodgers starter to strike out the side in the 9th inning since Sandy Koufax's perfect game
. In his next start, on June 26, Kershaw pitched another complete game (against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
). He became the first Dodger starter to have back-to-back complete game victories since Jeff Weaver
in 2005
and the first Dodger to have double digit strikeouts in consecutive starts since Chan-Ho Park
in 2000
. He was awarded the National League Player of the Week award for the week of June 20–26 as a result of those two starts.
He was selected to the National League squad for the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
, his first all-star selection. In the month of July, Kershaw was 4–1 with a 2.02 ERA and NL leading 45 strikeouts, earning him the National League Pitcher of the Month Award. On August 19, Kershaw recorded his 15th win of a season, taking him above his previous high of 14 wins, in a 5–1 victory over the Brewers.
On August 23, Kershaw stuck out Matt Holliday
of the St. Louis Cardinals
for his 200th strikeout of the season. He became the 10th Dodger pitcher to record back-to-back 200 strikeout seasons and the first since Chan-Ho Park
in 2001
. He also picked up his 16th win in that game, the most wins by a Dodger left-handed pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela
won 21 in 1986
.
Kershaw gained his 20th victory on September 20, 2011, defeating the San Francisco Giants
2–1. He became the first Dodgers pitcher to go 5–0 against the Giants in a season since Vic Lombardi
in 1946
, beating two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum
four times. The scores to those games were 2-1, 1-0, 2-1, 2-1, with Kershaw allowing 1 earned run and Lincecum allowing three in those four starts. Kershaw and Lincecum matching up four times, evoked fans of both teams memories of the days Sandy Koufax
and Juan Marichal
traded zeroes in the 1960s.
Kershaw finished the 2011 season with 21 wins, 248 strikeouts, and a 2.28 ERA, winning the NL pitching Triple Crown
, the first Triple Crown winner since Jake Peavy
in 2007
and the first Dodger since Sandy Koufax
won it in 1966
. The Detroit Tigers
' Justin Verlander
won the AL Triple Crown the same season, marking the first major-league season since 1924
to feature Triple Crown-winning pitchers in both leagues. Kershaw's 21 wins were the most by a Dodger pitcher since Orel Hershiser
won 23 in 1988
. His ERA was the lowest by a Dodger since Hershiser's 2.03 in 1985
, his strikeouts were the most by a Dodger since Sandy Koufax
's 317 in 1966
and his 233 1/3 innings pitched were the most since Chan Ho Park pitched 234 in 2001
. Since 1965 when Sandy Koufax did it, Jake Peavy
in 2007
and Kershaw in 2011 are only two pitchers in the National League have led the league in wins
, strikeouts, ERA
, and WHIP
. Additionally, since 1969, only three pitchers had a second-half ERA as good as Kershaw’s 1.31, according to the Elias Sports Bureau
: Roger Clemens
(0.97 in 1990
), Tom Seaver
(1.10 in 1971
) and Johan Santana
(1.21 in 2004). Kershaw also became just the second lefthander to get 240-plus strikeouts in a season before the age of 24 joining Vida Blue
.
After the season, Kershaw was awarded the Warren Spahn Award
as the best left-handed pitcher in 2011, the USA Today National League Cy Young, the Players Choice Award
for Most Outstanding National League pitcher, the Gold Glove Award
as the top fielding pitcher in the NL and the NL TSN Pitcher of the Year. He was additionally selected as the starting pitcher for the Sporting News NL All-Star Team. On November 17, he was honored with the National League Cy Young Award
, making him the youngest Cy Young winner since Dwight Gooden
in 1985. He was the the 8th Dodger pitcher to the win the award, the first since Éric Gagné
in 2003
.
. Earlier in his career, Kershaw had problems with his front shoulder flying open and repeating his delivery, that caused him to lose his release point making his control spotty. Since the middle of the 2010 season, his control improved so dramatically that it isn't seen as a weakness anymore. In 2009, he walked 4.8 batters per 9 compared to 2011, where he only walked 2.1 batters per 9.
Kershaw pitch repertoire includes a four-seam fastball
that sits anywhere from 93-97 with cut and late movement, a two-seam fastball
with natural cut at 91-93mph, a slider
, a 12-6 curveball, a hard curveball and a circle changeup
. His slider and both curveballs are considered plus pitches for him, most notably the slider, which registered as one of the top off-speed offerings in 2011. Kershaw is a strikeout pitcher, having a career average of one strikeout for every inning pitched. He is also known for having one of the better pickoff
moves to first base and is considered one of the better defensive pitchers in baseball. When he's on his game, Kershaw allows very few base runners, strikes out batters at a high rate, records outs mostly by infield pop-ups or ground balls, and when batters try to bunt, he usually fields his position exceptionally well. A testament to this was in 2011, where Kershaw led the National League
in WHIP
and strikeouts and won Rawlings Gold Glove Award
.
Unlike most pitchers, Kershaw is easily approachable during the day or days leading up to his scheduled starts. He also will not travel ahead of schedule should his start be on the first game of a series. Kershaw typically wears the same hat, glove, cleats, and wrist bracelet for every game during that season. Additionally, Kershaw is seen as a leader in the clubhouse and will usually be one of the first players congratulating his teammates at the top step of the dugout.
, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh
.
He is a Methodist with strong religious faith.
On December 4, 2010, Kershaw married his girlfriend of seven years, Ellen Melson.
Kershaw grew up and attended school with Detroit Lions
quarterback
Matthew Stafford
. He also grew up with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
closer Jordan Walden
and former Baylor University
star and current Dodgers top relief prospect Shawn Tolleson.
, he donated $260,000 to Hope's Home. He and his wife will be returning to Zambia in 2012.
On November 17th, 2011, Regal Books announced that they will be publishing a book co-authored by Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, named Arise. In Arise, Clayton and Ellen tell their story so far—from meeting in junior high school in Texas, to eye-opening visits in Africa. The book is scheduled to be released on January 18, 2012, just days after the Kershaw's return from a trip to Zambia and about a month before major league pitchers report for Spring training.
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
In 2011, Kershaw won the Pitching Triple Crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
and the National League Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
, becoming the youngest pitcher to accomplish either of these feats since Dwight Gooden
Dwight Gooden
Dwight Eugene Gooden , nicknamed "Doc Gooden" or "Dr. K", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s.-Career:...
in 1985. Being a left-handed strikeout pitcher and playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Kershaw has often been compared to Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
pitcher Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
Early life
Kershaw attended Highland Park High SchoolHighland Park High School (University Park, Texas)
Highland Park High School is located in University Park, Texas.Highland Park is a part of the Highland Park Independent School District. It serves all of the city of University Park, most of the town of Highland Park, and portions of Dallas.-History:...
, where he established himself as an elite high school prospect in 2006 when he posted a 13–0 record with an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 0.77, and recorded 139 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 64 innings. In a playoff game against Justin Northwest High School, Kershaw pitched an all-strikeout perfect game. He was selected by USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
as "High School Baseball Player of the Year", and was also the Gatorade National Player of the Year
Gatorade Player of the Year awards
The Gatorade Player of the Year awards are given annually to male and female high-school student-athletes in the United States. They are given for boys' baseball, boys' football, girls' softball, girls' volleyball, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, boys' cross country, girls' cross country,...
for baseball. Kershaw was also friends with future Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
Quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford
John Matthew Stafford is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia....
.
Entering the 2006 MLB Draft
2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
, Kershaw was considered the top high-schooler available. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Kershaw with the 7th overall pick in the draft. He turned down a scholarship at Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
to sign with the Dodgers, with a bonus estimated at $2.3 million. The $2.3 million bonus was the largest to any Dodgers amateur at the time, which was eventually topped by Zach Lee in the 2010 MLB Draft
2010 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.-First-round selections:The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team picking first.Key...
.
Minor league career
Kershaw continued to show dominance with the Gulf Coast LeagueGulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
Dodgers. He pitched in 37 innings in which he struck out 54 batters (walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
only 5), while compiling a record of 2–0 with a 1.95 ERA. He featured a 93–94 mph fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
(topping out at 96 mph). He was rated as the No.1 prospect in the GCL, and the Dodgers' No. 2 prospect by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
behind third basemen Andy LaRoche
Andy LaRoche
Andrew Christian LaRoche is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent....
.
In two starts in 2006, he fanned 21 batters in 11 innings from July 29-August 3.
Kershaw entered the 2007 season as the top prospect in the Dodgers' system, according to Baseball America. That year, for the Great Lakes Loons
Great Lakes Loons
The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays in the Midwest League and their home park is Dow Diamond, which opened in April 2007.-History:...
, Kershaw recorded a record of 7–5 with a 2.77 earned run average and was selected to play on the East Team in the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
All Star Game. He also was selected to appear in the All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
for the USA Team. On August 6, he was promoted to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
in the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
, where he produced a 1–2 record and 3.65 ERA in 5 starts.
During spring training in a game against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Kershaw gained much attention for throwing a remarkable 1:7 curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
to Sean Casey that started behind Casey but at the end looped into the strike zone
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
and struck him out looking, which announcer Vin Scully
Vin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV and KABC radio...
dubbed "Public Enemy No. 1." Kershaw was 0–3 and had a 2.28 ERA with 47 strikeouts through 43.1 innings pitched in his first stint of the year with the Jacksonville Suns. He was then called up to the majors, but optioned back to Jacksonville on July 2, 2008.
Kershaw pitched 18 innings during his second trip to Jacksonville (two starts and one 7-inning relief appearance), winning two games. During this stretch, he allowed only 2 runs earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s, lowering his ERA to 1.91. He was recalled on July 22.
2008 season
On May 24, 2008, Kershaw's minor league contract was purchased by the Dodgers, and he was added to the active roster. Tony Jackson, a well-respected beat writer for the Dodgers, called Kershaw's debut the most anticipated start by a Dodgers pitcher since Hideo NomoHideo Nomo
is a former right-handed pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball and Major League Baseball from Japan. He achieved early success in Japan, where he played with the Kintetsu Buffaloes from to...
debut in 1995
1995 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1995 season was notable for the American baseball debut of Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo. In his first season with the Dodgers after an accomplished career in the Japanese leagues, Nomo went 13-6 with an 2.54 ERA and a league leading 236 strikeouts...
. He made his debut on May 25, starting against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He pitched six innings, allowed two runs and recorded seven strikeouts. When he debuted, Kershaw was the youngest player in Major League Baseball, a title he held for one full year. The following week, during an interview with Eric Karros, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
said Kershaw had "unhittable stuff".
Kershaw won his first major league game against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
on July 27, 2008. He pitched six-plus shutout innings, allowing four hits, a walk, and struck out five. Kershaw finished his rookie season 5-5, with a 4.26 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 22 games (21 starts).
2009 season
On April 15, 2009, Kershaw pitched 7 innings, striking out 13 batters while allowing only one hit (solo HR) against the rival San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. On May 17, 2009, Kershaw had a no-hitter against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
through 7 innings, then gave up a lead-off double to Florida's Cody Ross
Cody Ross
Cody Joseph Ross is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has played with the Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds , and Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants...
. Due to 2nd half struggles from Chad Billingsley
Chad Billingsley
Chad Ryan Billingsley is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Biography:...
and injuries to Hiroki Kuroda
Hiroki Kuroda
is a professional baseball player from Osaka, Japan who is currently a free agent. He is a starting pitcher, who most recently pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers .-Early days:...
, Kershaw became the de facto ace for the Dodgers at the age of 21. He responded by posting a 2.27 ERA in the second half of the season.
In 2009, despite an 8–8 record, he led the major leagues in opposing batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.200), opposing slugging percentage (.282), and hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
per nine innings (6.26). He also posted an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 2.79 and 185 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s. Kershaw also walked 91 batters, which was second most in the National League.
He made his playoff starting debut against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and Adam Wainwright
Adam Wainwright
Adam Parrish Wainwright is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted 29th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the St...
in the 2009 National League Division Series
2009 National League Division Series
The National League Division Series consisted of two concurrent best-of-five game series that determined the participating teams in the 2009 National League Championship Series. Three divisional winners and a "wild card" team played in the two series. The NLDS began on Wednesday, October 7 and...
. He went 6.2 IP, striking out 4, walking 1, and ended up getting a no-decision (Dodgers went on to win the game in the 9th inning). At 21 years old, he was the youngest pitcher to start a playoff game since Rick Ankiel
Rick Ankiel
Richard Alexander Ankiel is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently with the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws left-handed....
did so in 2000 at the age of 20.
2010 season
Coming off of back-to-back National League Championship SeriesNational League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
, the Dodgers and Kershaw had hefty expectations coming into 2010. Kershaw started the season to mixed reviews. In April, he posted a 3.07 ERA, but did so by walking 22 batters in 29 innings. On May 4th, Kershaw had his worst start of his career against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
. Kershaw threw 57 pitches in just 1 1/3 innings and retired only four of the 13 batters he faced -- including the pitcher and was booed loudly upon being pulled from the game. Kershaw said after the game, "I didn't give our team any kind of chance. It's just not a good feeling to let your teammates down, let everybody down. It stings, it hurts. I've got to figure things out."
Kershaw rebounded his next start by pitching an 8 inning two-hitter and out-dueling the then undefeated Ubaldo Jiménez
Ubaldo Jimenez
Ubaldo Jiménez García is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He pitched the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies history on April 17, 2010, against the Atlanta Braves.-Colorado Rockies :...
. He went on to go 11-7 with a 2.68 ERA for the remainder of the season. Kershaw credited his control of the slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
being the major turning point for him. Later in the season, he was suspended for five games after hitting Aaron Rowand
Aaron Rowand
Aaron Ryan Rowand is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who has played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies. He was released by the Giants in September 2011.-Early life and college career:...
of the rival San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
with a pitch in a game on July 20. The incident occurred after both teams were given a warning following Giants ace Tim Lincecum
Tim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
hitting Matt Kemp
Matt Kemp
Matthew Ryan "Matt" Kemp is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.Kemp was drafted by the Dodgers in the 6th round of the 2003 draft and made his major league debut in 2006...
earlier in the game. He threw his first career complete game shutout on September 14, also against San Francisco. He finished the season with a record of 13–10 and a 2.91 ERA in 32 starts, pitching a career best 204.1 innings and recording 212 strikeouts.
2011 season
On February 16, 2011 the Dodgers named Kershaw as the Opening Day Starter for the 2011 season. On May 29, he pitched the second complete-game shutout of his career, striking out 10 while winning a two-hitter against the Florida MarlinsFlorida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, 8–0; he also had two singles and an RBI, scoring twice, in the game. Kershaw produced his third career shutout on June 20, a two-hit, 11 strikeout effort against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. This game was of significance because Kershaw became the first Dodgers starter to strike out the side in the 9th inning since Sandy Koufax's perfect game
Sandy Koufax's perfect game
Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a perfect game in Major League Baseball against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on September 9, 1965. Koufax, by retiring 27 consecutive batters without allowing any to reach base, became the sixth pitcher of the modern era, eighth overall, to...
. In his next start, on June 26, Kershaw pitched another complete game (against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
). He became the first Dodger starter to have back-to-back complete game victories since Jeff Weaver
Jeff Weaver
Jeffrey Charles Weaver is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has pitched in the majors for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners...
in 2005
2005 Los Angeles Dodgers season
In 2005, the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered from a rash of injuries to key players such as closer Eric Gagné, shortstop Cesar Izturis and outfielder J.D. Drew and fell to their second worst record in Los Angeles history, finishing in fourth place in the Western Division of the National League...
and the first Dodger to have double digit strikeouts in consecutive starts since Chan-Ho Park
Chan-ho Park
Chan Ho Park is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles of Korea Baseball Organization. He previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League...
in 2000
2000 Los Angeles Dodgers season
In 2000, the Dodgers set a club record for home runs with 211, led by Gary Sheffield, who tied Duke Snider's single-season club mark with 43. Eric Karros became the L.A. Dodger all-time leader with his 229th home run and Dave Hansen set a Major League record with seven pinch-hit home runs. Kevin...
. He was awarded the National League Player of the Week award for the week of June 20–26 as a result of those two starts.
He was selected to the National League squad for the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 82nd in-season exhibition game between the All-Stars of the National League and the American League ; the leagues composing Major League Baseball. The event was held on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, home of the...
, his first all-star selection. In the month of July, Kershaw was 4–1 with a 2.02 ERA and NL leading 45 strikeouts, earning him the National League Pitcher of the Month Award. On August 19, Kershaw recorded his 15th win of a season, taking him above his previous high of 14 wins, in a 5–1 victory over the Brewers.
On August 23, Kershaw stuck out Matt Holliday
Matt Holliday
Matthew Thomas Holliday , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.Holliday is a five-time All-Star and Silver Slugger...
of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
for his 200th strikeout of the season. He became the 10th Dodger pitcher to record back-to-back 200 strikeout seasons and the first since Chan-Ho Park
Chan-ho Park
Chan Ho Park is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles of Korea Baseball Organization. He previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League...
in 2001
2001 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 2001 season saw Jim Tracy take over as the Manager, after serving as the Bench coach the previous two seasons. The Dodgers won 86 games, finishing third in the Western Division of the National League, six games behind the eventual World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks.Shawn Green had his...
. He also picked up his 16th win in that game, the most wins by a Dodger left-handed pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
won 21 in 1986
1986 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1986 Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season in fifth place in the Western Division of the National League.-Offseason:*January 14, 1986:1986 Major League Baseball Draft notable picks:-Notable transactions:...
.
Kershaw gained his 20th victory on September 20, 2011, defeating the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
2–1. He became the first Dodgers pitcher to go 5–0 against the Giants in a season since Vic Lombardi
Vic Lombardi
Victor Alvin Lombardi was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1945-1950 with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates. He was the starting pitcher in two games of the 1947 World Series for the Dodgers.-External links:**** at Find a Grave...
in 1946
1946 Brooklyn Dodgers season
The Brooklyn Dodgers finished the season tied for first place with the St. Louis Cardinals. The two teams played in the first ever playoff series to decide the pennant, and the Cardinals took two straight to win the title....
, beating two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum
Tim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
four times. The scores to those games were 2-1, 1-0, 2-1, 2-1, with Kershaw allowing 1 earned run and Lincecum allowing three in those four starts. Kershaw and Lincecum matching up four times, evoked fans of both teams memories of the days Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
and Juan Marichal
Juan Marichal
Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Playing for the San Francisco Giants most of his career, Marichal was known for his high leg kick, pinpoint control and intimidation tactics, which included aiming pitches directly at the opposing batters'...
traded zeroes in the 1960s.
Kershaw finished the 2011 season with 21 wins, 248 strikeouts, and a 2.28 ERA, winning the NL pitching Triple Crown
Triple crown (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, a player earns the Triple Crown when he leads a league in three specific statistical categories. For batters, a player must lead the league in home runs, run batted in , and batting average; pitchers must lead the league in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average...
, the first Triple Crown winner since Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy
Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
in 2007
2007 San Diego Padres season
The San Diego Padres' 2007 season began with the Padres' attempt to win a 3rd consecutive NL West title. After finishing 162 games in a tie with the Colorado Rockies for both the NL Wild Card and second place in the NL West, they were defeated in a tie-breaker which placed them third overall in...
and the first Dodger since Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
won it in 1966
1966 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League championship with a 95–67 record , but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in four games in the World Series.-Regular season:...
. The Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
' Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander
Justin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball....
won the AL Triple Crown the same season, marking the first major-league season since 1924
1924 in baseball
-Champions:*World Series: Washington Senators over New York Giants *First Negro League World Series: Kansas City Monarchs over Hilldale -Awards and honors:*League Award** Walter Johnson, Washington Senators, P** Dazzy Vance, Brooklyn Dodgers, P...
to feature Triple Crown-winning pitchers in both leagues. Kershaw's 21 wins were the most by a Dodger pitcher since Orel Hershiser
Orel Hershiser
Orel Leonard Hershiser IV is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently an analyst for Baseball Tonight and Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and a professional poker player for...
won 23 in 1988
1988 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1988 season was a memorable one for the Dodgers as a squad that was picked to finish fourth wound up winning the World Series, beating the heavily favored New York Mets and Oakland Athletics on the way. Kirk Gibson carried the Dodger offense, winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award...
. His ERA was the lowest by a Dodger since Hershiser's 2.03 in 1985
1985 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1985 Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. Fernando Valenzuela set a major league record for most consecutive innings at the start of a season without allowing an earned run .-Offseason:*January 3,...
, his strikeouts were the most by a Dodger since Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
's 317 in 1966
1966 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League championship with a 95–67 record , but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in four games in the World Series.-Regular season:...
and his 233 1/3 innings pitched were the most since Chan Ho Park pitched 234 in 2001
2001 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 2001 season saw Jim Tracy take over as the Manager, after serving as the Bench coach the previous two seasons. The Dodgers won 86 games, finishing third in the Western Division of the National League, six games behind the eventual World Series champion Arizona Diamondbacks.Shawn Green had his...
. Since 1965 when Sandy Koufax did it, Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy
Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
in 2007
2007 San Diego Padres season
The San Diego Padres' 2007 season began with the Padres' attempt to win a 3rd consecutive NL West title. After finishing 162 games in a tie with the Colorado Rockies for both the NL Wild Card and second place in the NL West, they were defeated in a tie-breaker which placed them third overall in...
and Kershaw in 2011 are only two pitchers in the National League have led the league in wins
WINS
WINS may refer to:*WINS , a radio station in New York City*World Institute for Nuclear Security*Windows Internet Name Service*a web server solution stack built from Windows Server, Internet Information Services, .NET, and SQL Server...
, strikeouts, ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, and WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
. Additionally, since 1969, only three pitchers had a second-half ERA as good as Kershaw’s 1.31, according to the Elias Sports Bureau
Elias Sports Bureau
The Elias Sports Bureau is an American company that provides historical research and statistical services in the field of professional sports.In 1913, Al Munro Elias and his brother Walter established the Al Munro Elias Bureau in New York City...
: Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
(0.97 in 1990
1990 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing first in the American League East with a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. It was the second AL East division championship in three years for the Red Sox...
), Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
(1.10 in 1971
1971 New York Mets season
The New York Mets season was the 10th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Gil Hodges, the team had a 83-79 record yielding a fourth place finish in the National League East.- Offseason :...
) and Johan Santana
Johan Santana
Johan Alexander Santana Araque is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets. He is a native of Venezuela....
(1.21 in 2004). Kershaw also became just the second lefthander to get 240-plus strikeouts in a season before the age of 24 joining Vida Blue
Vida Blue
Vida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
.
After the season, Kershaw was awarded the Warren Spahn Award
Warren Spahn Award
The Warren Spahn Award is presented each season by the Oklahoma Sports Museum to the best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball . The award is named after Warren Spahn, who holds the MLB record in wins for a left-handed pitcher with 363....
as the best left-handed pitcher in 2011, the USA Today National League Cy Young, the Players Choice Award
Players Choice Award
The Players Choice Awards are annual Major League Baseball awards, given by the Major League Baseball Players Association .The Players Choice Awards are given following a secret ballot by players. Four awards go to a player in each league, while two awards each go to one player in all of Major...
for Most Outstanding National League pitcher, the Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
as the top fielding pitcher in the NL and the NL TSN Pitcher of the Year. He was additionally selected as the starting pitcher for the Sporting News NL All-Star Team. On November 17, he was honored with the National League Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
, making him the youngest Cy Young winner since Dwight Gooden
Dwight Gooden
Dwight Eugene Gooden , nicknamed "Doc Gooden" or "Dr. K", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s.-Career:...
in 1985. He was the the 8th Dodger pitcher to the win the award, the first since Éric Gagné
Éric Gagné
Éric Serge Gagné is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent in 1995, Gagné began his career as a starting pitcher...
in 2003
2003 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 2003 season was a turbulent period as News Corporation was seeking to sell the team. Nevertheless, the Dodgers fell just short of a Wild Card berth, winning 85 games, finishing second in the Western Division of the National League...
.
Pitching style
Kershaw pitching style is unique in that he has a high leg kick, which is rare for a left-handed pitcher. The leg kick helps him generate power off his four seam fastball and adds a dimension of deception on batters. Out of the stretch, he uses a slide step as it makes it difficult for the base runner at first base to get a read on him. Kershaw also keeps the ball hidden well. He never gives the batter a clean look at the ball until one or two frames before the release, which makes his release point much tougher to pick up. He has stated many times that he has modeled his pitching mechanists after his favorite pitcher growing up, Roger ClemensRoger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
. Earlier in his career, Kershaw had problems with his front shoulder flying open and repeating his delivery, that caused him to lose his release point making his control spotty. Since the middle of the 2010 season, his control improved so dramatically that it isn't seen as a weakness anymore. In 2009, he walked 4.8 batters per 9 compared to 2011, where he only walked 2.1 batters per 9.
Kershaw pitch repertoire includes a four-seam fastball
Four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
that sits anywhere from 93-97 with cut and late movement, a two-seam fastball
Two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball, but the general movement of a screwball...
with natural cut at 91-93mph, a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, a 12-6 curveball, a hard curveball and a circle changeup
Circle changeup
In baseball, a circle changeup is a pitch thrown with a grip that includes a circle formation, hence the name. The circle is formed by making a circle with the index finger, holding the thumb at the bottom of the ball parallel to the middle finger and holding the ball far out in the hand...
. His slider and both curveballs are considered plus pitches for him, most notably the slider, which registered as one of the top off-speed offerings in 2011. Kershaw is a strikeout pitcher, having a career average of one strikeout for every inning pitched. He is also known for having one of the better pickoff
Pickoff
In baseball, a pickoff is an act by a pitcher or a catcher, throwing a live ball to a fielder so that the fielder can tag out a baserunner who is either leading off or about to begin stealing the next base....
moves to first base and is considered one of the better defensive pitchers in baseball. When he's on his game, Kershaw allows very few base runners, strikes out batters at a high rate, records outs mostly by infield pop-ups or ground balls, and when batters try to bunt, he usually fields his position exceptionally well. A testament to this was in 2011, where Kershaw led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in WHIP
Walks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
and strikeouts and won Rawlings Gold Glove Award
Rawlings Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
.
Unlike most pitchers, Kershaw is easily approachable during the day or days leading up to his scheduled starts. He also will not travel ahead of schedule should his start be on the first game of a series. Kershaw typically wears the same hat, glove, cleats, and wrist bracelet for every game during that season. Additionally, Kershaw is seen as a leader in the clubhouse and will usually be one of the first players congratulating his teammates at the top step of the dugout.
Personal life
Kershaw is the great-nephew of the discoverer of PlutoPluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh
Clyde Tombaugh
Clyde William Tombaugh was an American astronomer. Although he is best known for discovering the dwarf planet Pluto in 1930, the first object to be discovered in what would later be identified as the Kuiper Belt, Tombaugh also discovered many asteroids; he also called for serious scientific...
.
He is a Methodist with strong religious faith.
On December 4, 2010, Kershaw married his girlfriend of seven years, Ellen Melson.
Kershaw grew up and attended school with Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford
John Matthew Stafford is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia....
. He also grew up with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
closer Jordan Walden
Jordan Walden
Jordan Walden nicknamed "Waldo", is a right-handed pitcher on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim active roster.-Early life:...
and former Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
star and current Dodgers top relief prospect Shawn Tolleson.
Volunteer work
Prior to the 2011 season, Kershaw visited Zambia with his wife as part of a Christian mission organized by Dallas-based Arise Africa. After the trip, Kershaw announced his dream of building an orphanage in Lusaka, Zambia, which he called "Hope's Home" after 11-year-old Hope, an HIV-positive child Kershaw met while in Zambia. To accomplish his goal, Kershaw pledged a donation of $100 per strikeout recorded in 2011. With Kershaw's career high of 248 strikeouts thrown during the 2011 season, he donated $492,300 towards his $70,000 goal. When Kershaw won the 2011 Players Choice AwardPlayers Choice Award
The Players Choice Awards are annual Major League Baseball awards, given by the Major League Baseball Players Association .The Players Choice Awards are given following a secret ballot by players. Four awards go to a player in each league, while two awards each go to one player in all of Major...
, he donated $260,000 to Hope's Home. He and his wife will be returning to Zambia in 2012.
On November 17th, 2011, Regal Books announced that they will be publishing a book co-authored by Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, named Arise. In Arise, Clayton and Ellen tell their story so far—from meeting in junior high school in Texas, to eye-opening visits in Africa. The book is scheduled to be released on January 18, 2012, just days after the Kershaw's return from a trip to Zambia and about a month before major league pitchers report for Spring training.