Clayton Kershaw is back with the Dodgers in a non-playing role. The club hired the future Hall of Famer as a special assistant in their front office, reports Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Kershaw retired at the end of the 2025 season, though he was included on the Team USA roster for this spring’s World Baseball Classic. That was largely symbolic, as he didn’t make an appearance and was subbed off the roster before the semifinals.
Kershaw tells Sonja Chen of MLB.com he’ll “be involved” with the organization. Special assistant roles around the league vary. Some of these hirings are ceremonial or public relations moves, while others involve working with MLB players and/or prospects during Spring Training and throughout the season.
In either case, it’s fitting that Kershaw remains a Dodger in some capacity. He spent all of his legendary career in Dodger blue, posting a 2.53 ERA in a little under 3000 innings. Kershaw won the NL MVP in 2014 and is still the most recent pitcher to do so. He won five ERA titles, three Cy Young awards, and three championships.
Kershaw is in L.A. this weekend for the season-opening series against the Diamondbacks. He was part of NBC’s broadcast team for last night’s opener. He’s back at Dodger Stadium tonight as part of the World Series ring ceremony.
As a Cubs fan, I watched Kershaw carve up the NL for the better part of the last 20 years. Other than in the playoffs in 16-17, I always quietly rooted for him. Loved that he stayed in LA his whole career. Maybe one of the last of his kind. To stand as an equal to Sandy Koufax in LA, hat tip over here.
Sweet. Can’t keep a legend out of the game entirely. Yay!!!
Well I’m feeling old… I remember when he was a teenager in the minors and everyone was already calling him the second coming of Sandy Koufax.
It would have been a real insult if they didn’t keep him in the franchise in some way. So good on the Dodgers.
Does this mean he is an assistant who is special, or he has a special job?
Gonna say it here since the top comment will be deleted. Some of the racist garbage that happens on this board is really disappointing
You’re not wrong, but there’s also a lot of trolling which I think is the case this time.
i don’t disagree with your take but that first comment was a satire acct post. I assume so anyway
I don’t disagree, but. I agree
I’m glad you called it out. We don’t need mlbtr to turn into x.
It sucks. It also ignores Jackie Robinson’s legacy.
I’m glad to see something finally go the Dodgers way, they’ve suffered enough. 🤣
Oh good he can help develop additional programs to discriminate against people who aren’t wacky fundamentalists. Great hire.
What took the Dodgers so long to bring Kersh back?
Good on both of ya. Dodger Nation is lucky to have 22 in the fold.
Nepotism
Maybe the Angels can hire Anthony Rendon as a special assistant. Sounds like something Arte Moreno would do.
Kershaw’s legend doesn’t stop!
It’s only fitting that he works for the dodgers.
I always thought there was something special about him