Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw Makes Triple-A Injury Rehab Start; Could Majors Be Next?

Clayton Kershaw took the ball for the Oklahoma City Baseball Club on Friday night in Round Rock in what could have been his last rehab start before returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation.

Kershaw had an average outing pitching four innings and giving up three earned runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked none in a 67-pitch (49 strikes) outing.

Three of the six hits and two of the three runs came in the first inning. The final big blow against Kershaw was a solo home run off the bat of Davis Wendzel in the bottom of the fourth inning tying the game at 3-3.

The game marked Kershaw’s first time pitching on the road in a minor league game since July 17, 2008, with Double-A Jacksonville at West Tennessee.

Kershaw, a 10-time MLB All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award-winner, 2014 National League Most Valuable Player, and 2020 World Series champion, could be joining the Dodgers next — his 17th big league season, all with the Dodgers.

Previously, Kershaw started and pitched three innings for Oklahoma City on July 13, facing the minimum and throwing 38 pitches (23 strikes) at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark against El Paso. He retired eight of the nine batters he faced with five strikeouts. Kershaw walked the first batter of the third inning but closed his outing by inducing a double play to conclude the inning

Friday’s start marked Kershaw’s fifth-ever appearance with the Oklahoma City club. He also made rehab starts in 2017, 2019 and 2021.

Kershaw began his rehab assignment on June 19 in Rancho Cucamonga, allowing one run and one walk along with two hits over three innings with five strikeouts. Following the outing, he experienced left shoulder soreness and underwent an MRI before resuming a throwing program and joining OKC.

Kershaw began the season on the 60-day Injured list while he was recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Last season he made 24 starts for the Dodgers, going 13-5 with a 2.46 ERA and 137 strikeouts over 131.2 innings pitched. He recorded the 200th win of his career on April 18, 2023, against the New York Mets. and was selected as a National League All-Star in July.

The Dodgers can only hope to see that version of Kershaw if and when he returns.

Photo Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

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