Cody Snavely
After about a month of baseball in the 2024 season, the Dodgers return to their winning ways and have a sizeable 6.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West standings.
While the team’s dynamics remain largely unchanged, one notable shift is the absence of the Dodgers’ left-handed ace Clayton Kershaw. This marks the first time in over fourteen years that he has not been a prominent member of the team.
Clayton Kershaw, in the midst of the first major surgery of his Hall-of-Fame career, is expected to be out until mid-summer as he diligently rehabs his shoulder. Encouragingly, the lefty has made significant strides in his return this season.
When the team broke for camp in February and Kershaw was re-signed to a one-year deal with a player option for 2025, he announced that he had begun his throwing program and was working toward a long toss and then throwing off a mound.
Entering this most recent homestand, Kershaw accomplished that goal, throwing off the mound twice so far and feeling great afterward, which is huge news in his recovery.
On May 3rd, Kershaw threw off the mound for the first time since his surgery, throwing around fifteen pitches. The left-handed starter then threw again on May 7th, throwing twenty pitches, all fastballs, with Austin Barnes catching.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Clayton Kershaw’s next step would be to ramp up the bullpens and incorporate off-speed pitches, but in Roberts’ words, “it’s been really encouraging so far.”
The 2023 season was complicated for Kershaw, who was riddled with injuries that ultimately cost the Dodgers in October despite posting some of his best overall numbers in a few years.
Prior to a shoulder injury that would sideline him most of the summer, Kershaw posted elite numbers in the first half, going 10-4 with a 2.55 ERA, 105 SO, and 9.9 K/9 in 95 innings.
Upon his return from the IL in September, there was a noticeable dip in velocity, with his fastball maxing out at 89-92 MPH, which was not fooling many hitters.
After an embarrassing defeat in the NLDS, in which Kershaw could not even go one full inning, many around the Dodgers and baseball wondered if he would return to the sport or retire. It took the entire offseason for Kershaw to decide, as well as re-signing with the club in the days leading up to camp.
Clayton Kershaw’s best days could be behind him. However, he has proven time and time again that he is an integral part of the Dodgers and their rotation and hopes to rejoin the team and go on one more World Series run.
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