View the customized cleats Clayton Kershaw’s children adorned for his return.
For the first time in 292 days, Clayton Kershaw will return to a major league mound on Thursday, bringing his family along.
Naturally, not in that sense. However, Kershaw will have personalized cleats made by his wife Ellen and adorned with artwork made by their four kids when he takes the field on Thursday.
Since 2019, Kershaw has been wearing cleats from Skechers, which said that the shoes had “sweet drawings dedicated to dad.”
The handwritten words “You Did It” and “We Are So Proud of You Dad” are included in the illustrations, along with a family lineup.
The 36-year-old Kershaw made his Dodgers debut on October 7, 2023, in the opening game of the National League division series.
The Dodgers are hoping that the three-time NL Cy Young winner’s delayed start to the 2024 season won’t keep him from throwing crucial innings in the final two months of the regular season and the postseason. The pitcher underwent shoulder surgery after that.
At a critical juncture, Clayton Kershaw is thrilled to be joining the Dodgers rotation again.
It was once thought that Clayton Kershaw’s return to the starting rotation would be a plus as the Los Angeles Dodgers prepared for a postseason push.
As it happens, the veteran ace is returning at a critical juncture.
Manager Dave Roberts and Dodgers officials are hoping that three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who faces the rival San Francisco Giants on Thursday afternoon, can stabilize a rotation that has struggled with injuries for the majority of the season.
“I’m eager to return,” Kershaw declared prior to Wednesday night’s Dodgers game against the Giants. It has been a while. The longest I have ever gone without throwing in a major league game. Of course, all you have to do is perform when you return to the stage.”
After undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason, Kershaw was able to return on time. When spring training began, the left-hander stated he expected to be able to return in July or August.
After making three minor league rehab starts, he was sidelined for a week due to persistent stiffness on June 19, the day of his debut. In his final rehab start on Friday for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kershaw pitched four innings and threw 67 pitches (49 strikes), giving up two strikeouts and no walks while giving up three runs and six hits.
Roberts stated that the same restrictions would apply as they did when Kershaw made a comeback to the field last year following a 35-game absence due to left shoulder inflammation.
In his first two starts in August of last year, he went five innings. In the first appearance, he threw 67 pitches; in the second, he rested for five days and threw 71.
“I believe that seeing in terms of difficult innings. when consecutive high pitch counts occur or if a pitch count starts to rise in an inning. Not even the total number of pitches,” Roberts remarked. “Building him up and getting him ready for October is the most crucial component.
Kershaw, 36, has been insistent that he hopes to quickly regain his previous level of performance. He pitched 131 2/3 innings over 24 starts last season, going 13-5 with a 2.46 ERA while dealing with shoulder problems the entire time.
“Many people spent a lot of time trying to help me on the road back and being able to get back,” Kershaw said on Wednesday. For many different people, it has great meaning. That is quite humble. All in all, I’m eager to return.”
It’s still unclear who Kershaw’s rotation partners will be.
After missing two weeks due to back tightness, Tyler Glasnow returned to the field on Wednesday night. With eighteen starts, Glasnow and Gavin Stone are equal for the team lead.
On Monday, James Paxton—who also started eighteen games—was assigned.
Walker Buehler (right hip inflammation) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (right rotator cuff) are still out for the Dodgers.
Tuesday, Buehler threw a bullpen, and a minor league rehab assignment is probably in the cards. Although Yamamoto has started a throwing regimen, he hasn’t started working off a mound yet. It’s unlikely that he’ll return until late August.
Rookies have helped Los Angeles maintain its lead in the NL West. When a rookie starter takes the mound, the Dodgers have a 27-18 record.
For the Dodgers this season, rookie pitchers have started 45 games and are 17-8 with a 3.00 ERA. With nine wins, Stone leads the team in victories. Over the course of the upcoming month, more starts are anticipated for Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski, and River Ryan.
The Dodgers’ rotation has the fifth-lowest ERA in the National League (3.91) and is limiting opponents to a batting average of.234—second-best in the league—despite having 13 pitchers start a game this season.
Despite not knowing what to anticipate following his first surgery as a professional baseball player, Clayton Kershaw is excited to be getting ready for a start.
“There were a few roadblocks that had to be overcome. He remarked, “I’m glad I went through that and am now on the other side.
