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6d ago

Clayton Kershaw Joins MLB’s 3,000-Strikeout Club

He fanned Vinny Capra on his 100th pitch to become the 20th pitcher to reach 3,000 career strikeouts

Clayton Kershaw pitches in his MLB debut on May 25, 2008.
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Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, warming gup in front of fans in the Dodger Stadium Centerfield Plaza area prior to a game in 2021, could go down as just the third member of the 3,000-strikeout club to pitch for just one team. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Overview

  • Kershaw struck out Vinny Capra on an 85 mph, 1-and-2 slider in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 2, marking his 3,000th career punchout.
  • He is the fourth left-hander ever to reach the milestone, joining Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton and CC Sabathia in the exclusive club.
  • Kershaw becomes one of three active pitchers with at least 3,000 strikeouts alongside Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
  • Spending all 18 seasons with the Dodgers, he is the third player to accumulate 3,000 strikeouts with a single franchise after Walter Johnson and Bob Gibson.
  • The achievement highlights the rarity of long-term starter durability in today’s game, where strict pitch counts, frequent injuries and deep bullpens limit such career milestones.