Clayton Kershaw named to 11th All-Star game

LOS ANGELES — Major League Baseball announced on Sunday that Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw has been named a National League All-Star as a “Legend Pick” in recognition of his illustrious career. Kershaw is an All-Star for the 11th time in his career.

The announcement arrived as expected: the All-Star Game rosters were revealed. Clayton Kershaw’s name was included alongside his teammates, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was selected for the first time in his career, as well as Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, and Shohei Ohtani.

This wasn’t just another year in the long, illustrious career of a pitcher who had already secured his place in baseball history. This one was different.

For most players, making an All-Star Game once is an achievement of a lifetime. For Kershaw, though, it represents much more than that. It’s the culmination of 18 years of dedication, evolution, and a willingness to adapt in an era where pitchers often burn out or fall off a cliff as they age. At 37 years old, Kershaw’s selection is not just an acknowledgment of his current performance—it’s a celebration of everything he has been, and everything he still brings to the game

This week marks the second time Kershaw is making headlines, as he has just become the 20th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts and only the fourth left-hander to achieve this milestone.

Kershaw has made nine starts this season and is undefeated thus far, going 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA and 32 strikeouts with a 1.25 WHIP.

Since making his debut in 2008, the 37-year-old left-handed pitcher has been a cornerstone for the Dodgers, earning his 11th All-Star selection in 2025. This achievement reflects not only his success on the field but also his discipline and ability to continually adapt his game in response to evolving trends in pitching mechanics, usage, and analytics.