LOS ANGELES, CA – The news sent shockwaves through the baseball world: Clayton Kershaw, the legendary pitching sensation who dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers for 18 years, has been named a lifetime ambassador for the team he played for as a rookie. The announcement came just weeks after Kershaw announced he would retire at the end of the 2025 season, sending shockwaves through the $MLB.
“Kershaw is more than just a legendary player, he is an inspiration, he is the soul of this organization,” said team owner Mark Walter during a special press conference this morning at Dodger Stadium. “We want him to continue to be the face and voice of the team – not just on the field, but in the community and around the world.”
Although he has decided to hang up his gloves at the end of this season, Kershaw will not be leaving Los Angeles – on the contrary, his new path as a Dodgers ambassador has officially begun. His duties will include appearing in media campaigns, assisting in recruiting young talent, developing the community and even representing the team at international events.
During the ceremony, speaking to thousands of fans at the stadium, Kershaw himself could not hold back his emotions:
“I never thought I would leave this way – but I would be here, continuing to serve the Dodgers in a different way.”
“The Dodgers is not just a place where I played. This is a family, where I grew up and learned to win. And I want to be a part of that story, even after I leave the field.”
During his 18 full seasons with the Dodgers – a historic 222 wins, 2.54 ERA, and over 3,000 strikeouts, three Cy Young Awards, and an MVP in 2014 – Kershaw has been a symbol of not only professionalism but also loyalty.
This year, his numbers are still impressive: 11–2, 3.36 ERA, and 84 strikeouts in 23 games – a performance that was a key part of his final season, helping the team stay at the top of MLB.
Because of this, the board of directors decided that no one understood and represented the organization better than Kershaw – “a bridge between the glorious past and the future of Los Angeles baseball.”
The decision to appoint Kershaw is seen as a strategic move by the Dodgers to build a brand with global value. The club is set to launch a major project this fall — including a new charitable foundation called the “Kershaw Legacy Initiative,” global outreach in Asia and Europe, and wall tours. During the ceremony, manager Dave Roberts himself exclaimed:
“We didn’t lose a pitcher. We just switched roles — from the field to the spiritual leadership role, and no one has done that better than Clayton.”
Fans were moved. One elderly fan standing near the field fence burst into tears:
“I’ve watched his entire career since 2008. And to see Clayton still here — not on the field, but in the hearts of the Dodgers — is the most magical thing.”
A fan on social media shared:
“Behind every victory we celebrate today, there is Kershaw’s face. Dy is the perfect Doang.
And finally, when the ceremony ended, Kershaw himself sent an emotional message to the fans:
“I always said I was a Dodgers. And now, I want to say it again: ‘Forever a Dodger. Forever a fan favorite.’”
In his playing career and now his new journey, Clayton Kershaw is once again called a legend.
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