Dodgers News: Big Family Announcement for the Kershaws (it’s a girl!)
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw might be on the verge of joining baseball’s exclusive 3,000-strikeout club, but during ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, it was the Hall of Fame-bound lefty’s off-field news that stole the show: he and his wife Ellen are expecting their fifth child—a baby girl.
“We actually had a gender reveal today,” Kershaw said with a proud smile. “My wife’s got—we’ve got number five coming. Another girl. So we’ve got bookend girls to go with our three boys.”
The announcement came during an in-game interview that was equal parts reflective and joyful, broadcast just one night after Kershaw’s seven-inning gem helped the Dodgers defeat the Giants. “It was a great night for the boys,” Kershaw said of Saturday’s win. “All it takes is ten runs of solid offense to get me going.”
Sunday’s game, which fell on Father’s Day, made the moment even more special. “It was a very special Father’s Day for us,” Kershaw said, noting that his kids were on the field pregame and have been spending more time around the team this season. “Letting the boys be around has been really fun for me.”
Now 37 and in his 18th Major League season, Kershaw is savoring every moment. Just 12 strikeouts away from 3,000, he said he’s not rushing anything. “At this rate, I’ll get there by late August or September 1st,” he joked. But what matters most, he added, is the support of his teammates. “The coolest part is just feeling how excited the guys are for me. It’s an individual milestone, sure, but to feel that joy from your peers, the people who are in the trenches with you—that’s special.”
Kershaw also reflected on the coaches and teammates who’ve shaped him over nearly two decades in Dodger blue. He singled out longtime pitching coach Rick Honeycutt as an early mentor. “Honey was my pitching coach for 10–12 years. I was young and didn’t know what I was doing. He taught me how to see the game, how to scout, how to compete.”
He also gave credit to current Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior—“Coach Prior,” as Kershaw affectionately calls him—and close friend and former battery mate A.J. Ellis. He rattled off names like Michael Young, Skip Schumaker, and Nick Punto—players who “played the game the right way”—as teammates he’s grateful to have learned from.
Speaking of Schumaker, the now-Marlins manager chimed in during the interview with a humorous message: “I was 0-for-7 with six strikeouts and a double play ball against you. You killed me.” Kershaw grinned: “Good. Appreciate that.”
The conversation also touched on the state of the NL West, where the Dodgers are once again locked in a tight race. With the Giants making a splash by acquiring Rafael Devers, and the Padres always looming with a big move of their own, Kershaw acknowledged the division is as competitive as ever.
“The Giants have been impressive,” he said. “Their bullpen has been unbelievable. Logan Webb looked really good the other night, and Robbie Ray’s throwing well. The Padres always make a big push. And Arizona swings the bat well—they can heat up fast. It’s a tough division, man, top to bottom.”
As the conversation shifted to Shohei Ohtani’s looming return to the mound, Kershaw’s eyes lit up. “We’re all excited. We’re kind of like fans at this point, just waiting. Whether it’s one inning, two innings—whatever he can give us is a huge bonus. It’s pretty amazing what he does every day: hit .300, hit home runs, steal bases, and then pitch—and not just throw hard, but pitch well. I’m thankful I get to be on his team.”
Kershaw also offered insight into his enduring approach on the mound. Despite the game’s growing reliance on data and analytics, he remains rooted in his old-school methods. “I haven’t changed a whole lot with my scouting,” he said. “I still go and watch the other team, especially the left-handed starters who faced them. Not so much to see what they do, but just to get familiar with the lineup.”
As the interview wrapped up, the conversation turned to legacy—specifically, what it means to spend his entire career with one team.
“It’s definitely something I’ve come to appreciate over time,” he said. “It was never something I thought about at first. But now, to be in one uniform for this long, and for it to be this uniform—that’s special. You think of guys like Jeter, Chipper Jones, Todd Helton. To be part of that group means a lot.”
As Dodgers fans celebrate yet another dominant performance from their longtime ace, they now have even more reason to cheer: the Kershaw family is growing again, and Clayton himself—more than ever—is cherishing every moment.
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