Whether you bleed Dodger blue or you’re just a fan of pitching mastery, Clayton Kershaw’s recent milestone has everyone talking. At 37 years young, Kershaw punched out Vinny Capra of the White Sox for strikeout number 3,000 in a dramatic Dodgers comeback win, cementing his place in baseball lore 👏 reuters.com.
From Dallas to Dodger Stadium: A Quick Bio of Clayton Kershaw
Born March 19, 1988 in Dallas, Texas, Kershaw made his MLB debut for the Dodgers on May 25, 2008. A left-handed ace, he’s racked up a 216–94 record with a 2.51 career ERA and entered the 2025 season just three Ks shy of joining the legendary 3,000 strikeout club .
The Road to 3,000 Ks: Kershaw’s Journey
- 2014: NL MVP and second Cy Young Award
- 2017–2024: Multiple All-Star selections, franchise strikeout records, and postseason heroics
- June 26, 2025: Struck out five in seven innings vs. Rockies to hit 2,997 career Ks mlb.com
- July 2, 2025: History made – slider biting the zone fanned Vinny Capra for #3,000 as.comreuters.com
Inside the Exclusive 3,000-Strikeout Club
Only 20 pitchers in MLB history have ever struck out 3,000 batters. Here’s a snapshot of the all-time leaders:
| Rank | Pitcher | Ks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nolan Ryan | 5,714 nbcnewyork.com |
| 2 | Randy Johnson | 4,875 |
| 3 | Roger Clemens | 4,672 |
| … | … | … |
| 20 | Clayton Kershaw | 3,000 |
Walter Johnson was the first to reach the mark back in 1923, and it wasn’t until Bob Gibson in 1974 that someone joined him. Since then, the club has steadily grown, but no one has quite matched Nolan Ryan’s eye-popping total en.wikipedia.org.
How Many Active Pitchers Have 3,000+ Ks?
- Clayton Kershaw (20th member)
- Justin Verlander
- Max Scherzer
- CC Sabathia
- …and that’s it. Just five active hurlers have crossed the threshold, making Kershaw’s achievement even more remarkable.
Kershaw vs. the White Sox: The Milestone Moment
In the July 2nd showdown at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers trailed Chicago 4–2 but rallied late for a 5–4 win. Kershaw allowed four runs over six innings, throwing 100 pitches (67 for strikes) before Lou Trivino sealed the finish. The defining moment? A perfectly located slider that froze Vinny Capra for career strikeout #3,000 as.comreuters.com.
Off the Mound: Clayton Kershaw’s Personal Life
Away from the diamond, Kershaw and his wife Ellen have built a family of five fierce support systems: three daughters and a son. Known for his quiet leadership and charitable work through the Kershaw’s Challenge foundation, he’s as respected off the field as he is on it .
What’s Next for Kershaw?
With the 3000-K club behind him, eyes turn to more Dodger franchise records and potential fourth Cy Young magic. Can he climb further up the all-time strikeout list? Only time (and plenty of sliders) will tell.
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