Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw at spring training in Florida in 2008.
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 22
Starting pitcher
Bats: Left Throws: Left
debut
May 25, 2008, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Career statistics (through July 25, 2010)
Win-Loss	23-18
Earned run average	3.23
Strikeouts	423
Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (2008–present)

Clayton Edward Kershaw (born March 19, 1988, in Dallas, Texas) is a 6' 3", 210 lbs., left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Early life

Kershaw attended Highland Park High School , 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 strikeouts 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.

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.

Minor league career

Kershaw continued to show dominance with the Gulf Coast League 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.

In two starts in 2006, he fanned 21 batters in 11 innings from 7/29-8/3.

In 2007, 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 2007 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 where he produced a 1-2 record and 3.65 ERA in 5 starts.

Kershaw entered the 2007 season as the top prospect in the Dodgers' system according to Baseball America.

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 in the Southern League. 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 runs, lowering his ERA to 1.91. He was recalled on July 22.

Major league career

On May 24, 2008, Kershaw's minor league contract was purchased by the Dodgers, and he was added to the active roster. 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.

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.

On April 15, 2009, Kershaw pitched 7 innings, striking out 13 batters while allowing only one hit (solo HR) against the rival San Francisco Giants. 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.

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 strikeouts.

In 2010, Kershaw 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.

Scouting report

According to the 2008 Baseball America Prospect Handbook, Kershaw's fastball now sits comfortably in the mid 90s and he often mixes in a 71-77 MPH curveball, with a hard 1-to-7 trajectory (from hitter's perspective). He is developing a circle-change that is considered to have "plus" potential, and recently introduced a low 80's Slider to compliment his Curve. Kershaw has very clean mechanics and a power pitcher frame, without any history of arm trouble.

Personal life

Kershaw is the great-nephew of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto.

He is a Methodist with strong religious faith.

Kershaw grew up & attended school with Detroit Lions starting quarterback Matt Stafford.

See also

• USA Today All-USA high school baseball team

External links

• Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
• Minor League Baseball bio