Clayton Kershaw, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ star pitcher, recently underwent shoulder surgery in an effort to return to the mound in the summer of 2021. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and is expected to keep Kershaw out of action for at least four to six months.
Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has been a cornerstone of the Dodgers’ success for over a decade. He has been an All-Star eight times and has led the National League in ERA five times. He has also won the NL MVP award and has been a World Series champion.
Kershaw’s shoulder injury has been a lingering issue for him over the past few years. He has had to miss time due to shoulder inflammation and soreness. This past season, he was limited to just 11 starts due to the shoulder issue. He finished the season with a 4-3 record and a 3.03 ERA.
The surgery that Kershaw underwent is designed to repair any damage to his shoulder and help him return to full strength. It is expected that he will be able to begin throwing again in four to six months, with a return to the mound sometime in the summer of 2021.
The Dodgers have been preparing for Kershaw’s absence by signing free agent pitchers like Trevor Bauer and Tommy Kahnle. They also have a number of young pitchers in their system who could step up in Kershaw’s absence.
Kershaw’s return will be a welcome sight for Dodgers fans, as he is one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. His return could be the final piece of the puzzle for the Dodgers as they look to make another deep postseason run in 2021.