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Clayton Kershaw Joins MLB’s Elite 3,000-Strikeout Club with Historic Night at Dodger Stadium
Jul
Los Angeles Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw officially entered Major League Baseball’s record books on Wednesday night, becoming just the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 career strikeouts.
The milestone came in the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ home game against the Chicago White Sox, when Kershaw struck out Vinny Capra at Dodger Stadium. The crowd erupted as the left-handed ace achieved yet another iconic mark in an already Hall of Fame-worthy career.
Kershaw joins an exclusive club — more exclusive than the 3,000-hit club, which has 33 members — highlighting just how rare such sustained pitching dominance is. With his achievement, Kershaw stands alongside modern greats Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander as the only active pitchers in the 3K club.
Though he has thrown the fewest innings of any member at the time of his 3,000th strikeout, Kershaw’s impact is undeniable. He boasts the highest winning percentage (.697) and best ERA+ (155) among all 20 members — narrowly edging out Pedro Martinez in both metrics.
His average game score of 61.9 is the highest ever recorded, and he’s tied for second in quality start percentage (68%) with Bob Gibson, trailing only Tom Seaver (70%).
Still, Kershaw ranks 16th in career bWAR (77.1) among the 3K elite — reflecting how modern pitcher usage limits innings compared to previous generations.
Kershaw’s legacy was already cemented with three Cy Young Awards, an MVP, and a World Series championship, but this achievement adds a new layer to his storied career. As analysts debate where he ranks among the greatest, one thing is clear: Clayton Kershaw is one of baseball’s most dominant and efficient pitchers of all time.
