Clayton Kershaw, a 10-time All-Star pitcher in 16 Major League Baseball seasons for the Los Angeles Dodgers, underwent left shoulder surgery on Friday but hopes to return in 2024.
The 35-year-old US left-hander who helped the Dodgers to a 2020 World Series crown announced on Instagram that Dr. Neal ElAttrache repaired his glenohumeral ligaments and capsule.
“I am hopeful to return to play at some point next summer,” Kershaw said in his posting after the first surgery of his career on his throwing arm.
Kershaw is a free agent, having signed one-year deals with the Dodgers over the past few seasons, but had not committed to pitching in 2024.
Dodgers officials have said they would bring back Kershaw next year if that was what he wanted.
Kershaw was named the National League’s Cy Young Award winner as top pitcher in 2011, 2013 and 2014 and also won the 2014 NL Most Valuable Player award.
He led the NL in wins and strikeouts three times each and in earned-run average five times — topping all three categories in 2011 to claim the pitchers’ Triple Crown.
Kershaw has a 210-92 career record with 2,944 strikeouts and a 2.48 earned-run average.
After sustaining his shoulder injury on June 27 in a start against the Colorado Rockies, Kershaw took off several weeks and was still bothered by the setback when he returned in August, his velocity reduced on fastballs and command precision reduced on curveballs and sliders.
Kershaw was the top starter for the Dodgers this season at 13-5 with 137 strikeouts and a 2.46 ERA, but was stung by a woeful performance in the team’s playoff opener against Arizona, allowing six runs while retiring only one batter.
