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Clayton Edward Kershaw (born March 19, 1988, in Dallas, Texas) is a 6' 3", 210 lbs., left-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is the great-nephew of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto.[1]
[edit] Early lifeKershaw attended Highland Park High School , where he 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. In a playoff game against Arlington Martin High School, Kershaw pitched an all-strikeout perfect game. He was selected by USA Today as "High School Baseball Player of the Year" and was also the Gatorade National Player of the Year for baseball. 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. He turned down a scholarship at Texas A&M to sign with the Dodgers, with a bonus estimated at 2.3 million dollars. [edit] Minor league careerKershaw 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 innings 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[2] 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. During spring training in a game against the Boston Red Sox, Kershaw gained much attention for throwing a remarkable 1:7 curveball to Sean Casey that started behind Casey but at the end looped into the strike zone and struck him out looking, which announcer Vin Scully dubbed "Public Enemy No. 1." [3] Kershaw was 0-3 and had a 2.28 ERA with 47 strikeouts through 43.1 innings pitched in his first stint of the year with the Jacksonville Suns in the Southern League. He was then called up to the majors, but optioned back to Jacksonville on July 2, 2008. Kershaw pitched 18 innings during his second trip to Jacksonville (two starts and one 7-inning relief appearance), winning two games. During this stretch, he allowed only 2 runs earned runs, lowering his ERA to 1.91. He was recalled on July 22. [edit] Major league careerOn 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. From the date of his debut, Kershaw had been the youngest player in Major League Baseball for one full year. Through 2009, he continued to be the youngest pitcher in Major League Baseball. Kershaw won his first major league game against the Washington Nationals on July 27, 2008. He pitched six-plus shutout innings, allowing four hits, a walk, and struck out five. On April 15, 2009, Kershaw pitched 7 innings, striking out 13 batters while allowing only one hit (solo HR) against the rival San Francisco Giants. On May 17, 2009, Kershaw had a no-hitter against the Florida Marlins through 7 innings, then gave up a lead-off double to Florida's Cody Ross. He finished the 2009 season with a record of 8-8 and an ERA of 2.79 in 30 starts. [edit] Scouting reportAccording to the 2008 Baseball America Prospect Handbook, Kershaw's fastball now sits comfortably in the mid 90s and he often mixes in a 71-77 MPH 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, and recently introduced a low 80's Slider to compliment his Curve. Kershaw has very clean mechanics and a power pitcher frame, without any history of arm trouble. [edit] See also[edit] References
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