Clayton Kershaw Named 2025 All-Star 'Legend Pick'
You don’t see a pitcher get called a ‘Legend Pick’ every season, but that’s exactly what happened when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Clayton Kershaw’s selection for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. It’s not just another All-Star nod, either—this is Kershaw’s 11th selection, putting him ahead of every other player in Dodgers history in terms of All-Star appearances. The news came during a pregame huddle, with both teammates and coaches soaking in the moment.
Getting tapped as MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred’s ‘Legend Pick’ for the National League roster carries real weight. Past ‘Legend Picks’ include the likes of Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera—a nod for players whose impact on the game goes beyond the box score. Kershaw, at 37, joins that club after reaching milestone after milestone in the past year. Since July, he’s joined the exclusive ranks of pitchers with 3,000 career strikeouts—the kind of feat that comes along maybe once or twice a decade for an active player. And with a 2.52 ERA, the best in the live-ball era for anyone with 1,500 or more innings, it’s not just longevity. It’s dominance.
Kershaw isn’t one to flex his own achievements, though. When the 'Legend Pick' announcement dropped, he joked about it being a ‘senior citizen’s discount.’ True to form, he took the tongue-in-cheek jab, but also realized the gravity of the situation. It wasn’t long before he was giving an impromptu speech to the National League All-Stars, highlighting how much responsibility comes with being part of the game’s big showcase. He talked about the need to “represent the sport” through leadership, showing the younger guys what carrying the mantle actually means.
Legacy, Teammates, and a Star-Studded Dodgers Squad
Kershaw’s not making the trip alone. The 2025 Dodgers have stacked the All-Star roster with key names: catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman, DH Shohei Ohtani, and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto all earned selections. Ohtani—picked by the fans, as usual—is continuing his global star run, while Yamamoto got the league’s nod for his strong debut stateside. For Kershaw, though, this honor stands apart. He’s the 20th pitcher in history to reach the 3,000-strikeout mark. He’s achieved a 121 ERA+ across nearly 51 innings this year, proving age is just a number when it comes to staying elite.
Dave Roberts was quick to spotlight just how rare Kershaw’s accomplishments are. Three Cy Young Awards. One MVP. Two World Series rings. Year after year, he’s the foundation the Dodgers have built on—always the guy to deliver when it counts. Even with so many fresh faces making waves on the roster, Kershaw is still the symbol of excellence for this franchise. Records fall, role players come and go, but having a ‘Legend Pick’ whose numbers back it up? That doesn’t just make for a good All-Star story. It signals a legacy that keeps growing, no matter how many All-Star Games and milestone ceremonies come his way.
