Clayton Kershaw: Retirement Announcement| Trump| kids ages

Clayton Kershaw, arguably one of the greatest left‐handed pitchers in Major League Baseball history, has announced he will retire at the end of the 2025 season. This decision marks the end of an 18-year, storied career—all spent with the Los Angeles Dodgers—and brings into focus not only his achievements on the mound but also his family life, his interactions with national politics (including with Donald Trump), and what lies ahead for his legacy and personal life. Below we explore the retirement announcement, what Kershaw said, his connection with Trump via the White House visit, and the current ages of his children.

The Retirement Announcement

1. When & how he announced
   On September 18, 2025, Clayton Kershaw, 37, officially declared that he will retire from Major League Baseball at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The announcement was made in a press conference at Dodger Stadium.

2. Why now & his mindset

   • Kershaw has acknowledged that he felt this season likely would be his last. However, he kept the decision private until the moment was right.

   • Despite the emotional weight of the announcement, he expressed being “at peace.” While “it’s just emotional,” Kershaw said he tried to hold it together.

   • He emphasized that he wanted to retire on his own terms, and that there was only one team with which he ever wanted to close his career: the Dodgers.

3. Career highlights as he steps away
   Clayton Kershaw’s career is rich with achievements:

   Metric	Value
   MLB seasons	18 (2008-2025)
   Career win–loss record	222-96 Reuters+1
   ERA (Earned Run Average)	~2.54 (lowest among active qualifying pitchers)
   Strikeouts	Over 3,000
   Awards	3× NL Cy Young; NL MVP (2014); 11× All-Star; multiple World Series titles (2020, 2024)

4. Final home start / last appearances
   His final regular-season start at Dodger Stadium is scheduled against the San Francisco Giants. He may still appear in postseason games, depending on how things develop.

Trump & the White House Connection

While Clayton Kershaw is primarily known for his baseball prowess, his interactions with political figures—especially President Donald Trump—have also drawn attention. Here’s a breakdown:

1. The Dodgers’ White House visit
   After clinching the World Series in 2024, the Los Angeles Dodgers were invited to the White House. As is customary, championship teams are often honored in such a visit.

2. Why Kershaw spoke, and what he did

   • Fredrie Freeman was expected to deliver the speech for the team, but due to injury, he couldn’t attend. Kershaw stepped in to deliver remarks.

   • On that occasion, Kershaw also presented President Trump with a custom Dodgers jersey bearing “Trump” on the back and No. 47.

3. Kershaw’s reflections / awkwardness
   In interviews following the event, Kershaw described the visit as “a little awkward,” especially because he did not play much during the previous season (the 2024 regular season and postseason had been marred by injury). Thus, while being in a leadership role and representative capacity, he felt somewhat distant from the team’s October run.

4. Balancing team, tradition, and politics

   • The Dodgers, including Kershaw, maintained that the White House visit was part of baseball tradition—honoring champions—not a political endorsement.

   • Kershaw’s speech also emphasized themes like teamwork, humility, dealing with adversity, and putting others first.

Kids’ Names and Ages

Kershaw is not just a legendary athlete; he is also a family man. Here’s the latest on his children, including names and estimated ages as of 2025:

• As of the retirement announcement, Kershaw has four children, and his wife Ellen is pregnant with their fifth child.

• The gender of the fifth child was revealed to be a girl in Father’s Day 2025.

What It All Means: Legacy, Family & Future

1. Legacy on the field
   Kershaw will leave behind an indelible mark. With a win rate, ERA, shutouts, strikeouts, and consistency, he ranks among the legends in Dodgers history and in MLB at large. He helped lead the Dodgers to multiple World Series, won multiple major pitching awards, and stayed with one franchise throughout his career—rarity in modern professional sports.

2. Family as priority
   In his retirement announcement, Kershaw repeatedly emphasized how much being around his family has meant to him. He thanked his wife, Ellen, and his kids—four of whom have watched him play for many years, with the fifth on the way. Being in one city, one team, helped his family life.

   The emotional side: what he will miss most isn’t just playing, but celebrating wins, the post-game moments, being part of the clubhouse dynamic. Those themes came up in his announcement.

3. After baseball: what’s next?
   While Kershaw hasn’t laid out a full plan for post-playing days, here are some likely paths:

   • Spending more time with family, especially with young children and a newborn.

   • Continued involvement in charitable work: Kershaw co-founded “Kershaw’s Challenge,” which has raised millions for children’s causes.

   • Chance of mentoring, broadcasting, or other roles within baseball that leverage his experience.

   • Hall of Fame induction is likely; standard waiting period applies. Many expect him to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

4. Reflections on the Trump event as part of his history
   The White House visit and his role in the speech serve as a reminder that top athletes often find themselves intersecting with politics—even if indirectly. Kershaw’s approach was low-key: emphasizing tradition, team, humility, and letting the moment be about the Dodgers, not about politics. His admission of awkwardness reminds us of the complex balancing act that public figures often face.

Key Quotes

• “I’m really not sad. I’m really at peace with this. It’s just emotional…” — Kershaw on his retirement.

• “Me not having a lot to do with the October run was a little bit, you know—it was a little awkward.” — On speaking at Trump’s White House after limited game action.

• “The game in and of itself I’m going to miss a lot…but I’ll be OK without that … the hard part will be the feeling after a win. That’s pretty special.” — Reflections as he looks toward life after playing.

Conclusion

Clayton Kershaw’s retirement announcement is a moment of both reflection and transition. After nearly two decades with the same team, achieving an enormous amount, he is stepping away to focus on family and legacy. His connection with public and political life—most notably via the White House visit with President Trump—adds another dimension to his public profile. Meanwhile, his children, ranging from pre-school age to middle childhood (and a fifth on the way), will now find their father with more time off the field.

As the 2025 season winds down, fans, teammates, and analysts will be watching not just the final starts, but how Kershaw uses this last chapter—both in baseball and life beyond it. He’s made it clear: this decision is about leaving on his own terms, cherishing the moments, and being present for what’s ahead.