Texas Baseball Legend Returning For Year 18 in the Big Leagues

When it comes to the world of baseball, the great state of Texas has produced some of the greatest of all-time. From Hall of Fame legends like Nolan Ryan & Eddie Mathews to current phenoms like Bobby Witt Jr., Texas has produced some absolutely phenomenal players.

And with Spring Training kicking off this week, according to multiple reports and pending a physical, one living Texas legend is returning for another year - Clayton Kershaw.

Dallas Native Clayton Kershaw Returning to Dodgers for Year 18

Clayton Kershaw is so synonymous with the Los Angles Dodgers that it's easy to forget he's a Texas guy. He was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. And was drafted by the Dodgers in the 1st round back in 2006 straight out Highland Park High School in the Dallas area. In fact, he still lives in the area - during the offseason they live in University Park, Texas and are very active in the community.

The 36 year old lefty, when healthy, is still one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. 2024 was the most trying year of Kershaw's career - only managing to throw 30 innings and posting the first negative WAR of his career. There was some thought that he may hang up his cleats and ride off to the Hall of Fame. But, it appears that Kershaw wants to at least try to go one more year.

Clayton Kershaw's Is One of the Greatest Players From Texas

Regardless of what kind of stats Kershaw posts in 2025, he's already one of the greatest baseball players born in the state of Texas. Based off of WAR (wins above replacement), Clayton Kershaw is the 8th greatest player in Texas history.

To put it in perspective, Nolan Ryan's career WAR over 27 season is 81.25. Kershaw's WAR through 17 seasons is 79.36. Furthermore, only two Texas natives in the Top 10 in WAR that aren't in the Hall of Fame are Kershaw and Norm Cash - and since Kershaw hasn't retired yet, he doesn't qualify. Everyone else - Tris Speaker, Rogers Hornsby, Frank Robinson, Greg Maddux, Joe Morgan, Eddie Mathews, Nolan Ryan and Ernie Banks - are all Hall of Famers.

Clayton Kershaw's Hall of Fame Resume

If WAR isn't your thing, that's ok. Kershaw checks a LOT of the boxes people look at as Hall of Fame markers. He's a 10x All-Star, 3x NL Cy Young Winner, 1x NL Most Valuable Player, a Gold Glove winner, 3x NL wins leader, 5x NL ERA leader, 3x NL Strike Out Leader and won the Pitching Triple Crown in 2011.

On top of his on the field accomplishments, he's also won a Roberto Clemente Award and Branch Rickey Award for his humanitarian work in Texas, LA and abroad.

He may never get to 300 wins, but if he can have one more healthy year, he will hit 3000 strike outs and he currently has a career ERA of a 2.50 - which is incredible. Just as a reference point, Greg Maddux is considered one of the greatest pitchers ever- his career ERA is a 3.16.

Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez is like the right handed Clayton Kershaw. Very similar career win totals, ERA and Strike Outs. There's no question that Pedro was a sure fire Hall of Famer, just like there's no question Kershaw will be a first ballot Hall of Famer when his time comes.

Not everyone gets to 300 wins for multiple reasons - being on bad teams, having bad bullpens behind you...whatever. As far as left handed pitchers go, outside of Sandy Koufax, there's not too many better than Texas native Clayton Kershaw. And with one or two more reasonably healthy seasons, he's only going to improve his case.