Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Edward Kershaw (born March 19, 1988) is a left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball.

Kershaw was drafted 7th overall in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. He worked his way through the Dodgers' farm system in just one full season and reached the majors at the age of 20 years old. When he debuted in 2008, he was the youngest player in Major League Baseball, a title he held for one full year. In 2011, he 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. As of 2012, his 2.79 career ERA is the lowest among active starters (minimum 900 innings pitched).

Off the field, Kershaw is an active participant in volunteer work. He and his wife, Ellen, launched "Kershaw’s Challenge" and wrote the book "Arise" in helping to raise money to build an orphanage in Zambia. In 2012, he was honored with the Roberto Clemente Award as the top humanitarian honor bestowed by Major League Baseball.

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.