Los Angeles Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw recently became the franchise’s all-time leader in strikeouts.
That’s a unique achievement: in an organization that has seen the likes of Don Sutton, Don Newcombe, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Fernando Valenzuela, and other all-time greats, being the strikeout leader is an incredible honor.
That honor belongs to Kershaw.
The MLB Vault Twitter account posts some amazing content from time to time.
One of the most recent games involved a video that shows us a young Kershaw dominating hitters at the 2007 Futures Game.
.@ClaytonKersh22 is the @Dodgers strikeout king.
Here is a K from the 2007 Futures Game, with a fun twist! pic.twitter.com/yjq34wFTsJ
— MLB Vault (@MLBVault) May 1, 2022
In the video, a 19-year-old Kershaw is seen striking out a fellow future major leaguer: Elvis Andrus.
A young Joey Votto also makes his appearance on the video.
Kershaw was in Class-A at the time, with a 2.12 ERA and a 41/103 BB/K ratio in 76.1 frames.
Kershaw Is In A League Of His Own
He went on to make his major league debut the following year, in 2008.
By 2009, he was one of the very best starters in the National League.
He has had one of the most amazing careers for a modern pitcher.
His career ERA is an incredible 2.49, and he has remained a highly effective pitcher even after losing several ticks on his fastball.
Relying on command and a Hall of Fame curveball, he is still a top pitcher in MLB even at 34.
His career achievements include eight All-Star Games (2011–2017, 2019), a World Series championship (2020), the NL MVP (2014), and three Cy Young awards (2011, 2013, 2014).
He won the pitching Triple Crown in 2011 and pitched a no-hitter on June 18, 2014.
It’s cool to see old videos of a young Kershaw dominating his peers.
He is still doing that, just 15 years later.
What a career, and what a pitcher.
NEXT: Dodgers Continue To Lead Most Important MLB Odds