Clayton Kershaw
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 Pitcher Clayton Kershaw at spring training in Arizona, 2008 Photo by Craig Y. Fujii |
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| Los Angeles Dodgers — No. 54 | |
| Starting Pitcher | |
| Born: March 19, 1988 Dallas, Texas |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| May 25, 2008 for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Teams | |
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Clayton Edward Kershaw (born March 19, 1988 in Dallas, Texas, U.S.) is a 6'3", 210 lbs., left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kershaw attended Highland Park High School and established himself as an elite high-school prospect in 2006 when he posted a 13-0 record with an ERA of 0.77, and recorded 139 strikeouts in 64 innings. He was selected by USA Today as "High School Baseball Player of the Year" and was also the "Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year." Entering the 2006 MLB Draft, Kershaw was considered the top high-schooler available. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Kershaw with the 7th overall pick in the draft.
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[edit] Minor league career
Kershaw continued to show dominance with the Gulf Coast League Dodgers. He pitched in 37 innings in which he struck out 54 batters (walking only 5), while compiling a record of 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA. He featured a 93-94 mph fastball (topping out at 96 mph). He was rated as the No.1 prospect in the GCL and the Dodgers' No. 2 prospect by Baseball America.
In two starts in 2006 he fanned 21 batters in 11 ininngs from 7/29-8/3
In 2007, for the Great Lakes Loons, Kershaw recorded a record of 7-5 with a 2.77 earned run average and was selected to play on the EAST Team in the 2007 Midwest League All Star Game to be held in Kane County. He also was selected to appear in the All-Star Futures Game for the USA Team.
On August 6, he was promoted to the Double-A Jacksonville Suns [1] where he produced a 1-2 record and 3.65 ERA in 5 starts.
Kershaw entered the 2008 season as the top prospect in the Dodgers' system according to Baseball America.
As of May 22, 2008, Kershaw has a 2.28 ERA and 47 strikeouts through 43.1 innings pitched with the Jacksonville Suns in AA Southern League.
[edit] Major league career
On May 24, 2008 Kershaw's minor league contract was purchased by the Dodgers, and was added to the active roster. He made his debut on May 25, starting against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched six innings, allowed two runs and recorded seven strikeouts. as of june 9th,2008 kershaw has pitched 14.2 innings and has 14 strikeouts
[edit] Scouting Report
According to the 2008 Baseball America Prospect Handbook, Kershaw's fastball now sits comfortably in the mid 90s and he often mixes in a 12-6 curveball, with a hard 1-to-7 trajectory (from hitter's perspective). He is developing a circle-change that is considered to have "plus" potential.
Kershaw has very clean mechanics and a power pitcher frame, without any history of arm trouble.
Top scouts such as Eric Rosenthal and others from sources such as Baseball America regard Kershaw as the top pitching prospect in baseball. Many top scouts believe he can be in the upper echelon of major league pitchers.
