Clayton Kershaw recorded his 3,000th removal in the stick in career on Wednesday evening at the Dodger Stadium, becoming the 20th launcher in the history of the Major Baseball League to do this.
Each time a high time takes a career in career like this – in particular a launcher – people wonder reflexively if it is the last.
In the case of Kershaw, with 3,000 stick withdrawals, it may well be.
Even if the modern game produces more stick withdrawals than ever, they tend to spread among the countless surveys’ surveys that launch 100 MPH or faster. The way in which the MLB teams treat the starters these days, making seven sleeves seem a lot. All paths to 3,000 stick withdrawals for most active players will be narrow.
The next launcher with a chance is the left -hander Chris Sale, who has 2,528 stick withdrawals and about a year less than Kershaw. He is currently on the injured list with a broken coast, recently supported on a diving attempt. He should not come back before the end of August, so it will cost him a few dozen ks. To reach 3,000, the sale will probably have to present itself well beyond the expiration date of Kershaw.
A factor in favor of the sale: he is a better launcher than Kershaw at the moment. He won the NL Cy Young in 2024 and succeeded 114 stick withdrawal with a 2.52 MPM in 89 1/3 sleeves before his injury, so he performed like someone with a shot. But, in the same way as Kershaw, he has not made 30 departures in a season since 2017.
Many needed to go right to make Kershaw do it – even if he is considered one of the 10 or 15 best launchers starting from all time. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the match he would give to Kershaw, who was 37 years old in March, every reasonable occasions to do so in front of the crowd.
It took 100 throws of the season for Kershaw to recover the three sticks to the stick he needed, but he arrived. He also granted four points and nine safe, leaving the match dragging the White Sox by two points in six rounds. The Dodgers gathered at the bottom of the ninth to win 5 to 4.
He was not considered Roberts to extend Kershaw to celebrate a historical achievement. Dodgers have several starting launchers on the injured list and pushing Kershaw in July – even a little – releases risks. Kershaw seemed to pass the start in fairly good health, although the fragility inherent in baseball appeared when the knock Max Muncy injured in the knee by playing the third base and had to be helped out of the field. Not what the dodgers needed, and certainly something in their minds, even if they celebrated the realization of Kershaw.
It was not only the last step at 3,000 ks that took a tightrope for Kershaw. It has been a SLOG lately. He has made 16 departures combined in the past two seasons due to injuries, and he has not made up to 30 departures since 2015. Kershaw apparently put everything he has to go so far.
If you look at the list of active launchers and their career with career sticks, the only one with a possible imminent shot at 3,000 is Gerrit Cole. He needs 749 but is about to be 34 years old and recovers from Tommy John surgery. Charlie Morton has 2124 stick withdrawals but will be 42 years old in November. Yu Darvish is the only other active launcher with up to 2,007 stick withdrawals, but he was injured this season and will be 39 years next month.
Another candidate who could come to mind, the left -hander Tarik Skubal, has 786 stick withdrawals in 680 1/3 sleeves. But he was 29 years old in November and has not yet launched 200 rounds in one season. He cannot be considered a black horse, in part because he made his debut when he approaches 24.
This is the key to Kershaw and the sale: they both started young. Kershaw made his debut with the Dodgers about two months after his 20th anniversary in 2008. Sale joined the White Sox in 2010 at the age of 21.
If you are looking for Paul Skenes, who made his debut at the age of 21 and has just been 23 years old, he could be the guy – in 15 years. So many things have to happen, and not happen, to reach 3,000 stick withdrawals. He is not even 300 years old yet.
Thinking of a young pulling phenomenon, Jacob Degrom’s career comes to mind. One of the best launchers of his generation, Degrom made his debut at almost 26, was injuries, he has just been 37 years old and is 1,234 stick withdraws at 3,000. Will not happen.
There is a good reason why Kershaw is only the 20th person to do: launching fairly well and long enough to reach 3,000 stick withdrawals is a kind of wire needle.
