LOS ANGELES — On Friday, finally, Clayton Kershaw got his parade. The Los Angeles Dodgers icon broke down as he addressed a crowd that finally got to celebrate, 36 years after its last parade and four years after the Dodgers broke through and won his first title.
Wednesday, Kershaw — who has already said he plans to return to the Dodgers in 2025 — will go under the knife. The future Hall of Fame left-hander confirmed Friday he will undergo surgery to address his bothersome left foot that ended his 2024 season, while also disclosing a new injury that will require surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will handle the knee, while Dr. Kenneth Jung will handle the foot.
“It’s gonna be a 2-for-1 special,” Kershaw quipped.
Kershaw made seven starts for the Dodgers this season in his return from the first major arm surgery of his career (repairing the glenohumeral ligaments and capsule in his left shoulder), exiting the last of them on Aug. 30 after just one inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks after complaining of severe discomfort in his left toe. The issue included a painful bone spur he had attempted to pitch through. Kershaw admitted Friday the damage was more serious than that, including a ruptured plantar plate and arthritis in his left foot. Kershaw had attempted through much of September to pitch through the issue regardless, but was shut down at the start of the Dodgers’ postseason run that culminated in the franchise’s eighth championship.
Clayton Kershaw: Dodger for life 💙 pic.twitter.com/o7P0Ecvudy
— MLB (@MLB) November 1, 2024
“There’s a lot of stuff that needs to be fixed,” Kershaw said.
Trying to pitch through the issue also caused Kershaw some discomfort in his oblique, though the 36-year-old said that has since dissipated. The knee had given Kershaw trouble, enough that he asked to undergo an MRI recently.
“So just add it to the list,” Kershaw said.
There is no clear timeline for a return, though Kershaw said this month it would be “a waste” to not try to keep pitching with his repaired shoulder holding up well in his first season back.
Kershaw has until Monday to decide on his player option for 2025, which is worth $7.5 million. He said he is still undecided on whether he will exercise it or decline and work his deal to remain a Dodger.
“I’ll be back, somehow,” Kershaw said. “I don’t care. I’ll be back.”
(Photo: BRonald Martinez / Getty Images)
