Anyone attending the Oklahoma City Dodgers game on Saturday will see something that’s never happened before — Clayton Kershaw appearing in a AAA game.
It was announced on Monday that Kershaw will make a rehab start for AAA Oklahoma City on Saturday. Kershaw, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of high school in 2006, never appeared at Minor League Baseball’s highest level.
Clayton Kershaw has played pro ball since 2006. This will be his first AAA appearance. https://t.co/z7mAhVKTKz
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 21, 2017
That really shows just how special he’s been since Day 1.
Excluding two rehab starts in 2014 and another in 2016, Kershaw has been with the Dodgers since 2008. After getting drafted, Kershaw quickly worked his way through the Los Angeles system, finishing the 2007 season in AA ball. That kind of progression is not even entirely common for college draftees, let alone high schoolers.
He began the 2008 season at the same level and was promoted to the majors early. After briefly getting sent back down to AA in July of that year, Kershaw reappeared with the big club, skipping AAA at every move. Since then, he has never looked back.
Kershaw has been out of action since July 23 with a back injury. The injury interrupted a stellar season which has seen Kershaw go 15-2 with a 2.04 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP.
When Kershaw returns to the majors, it will only add to what’s been baseball’s best team. The Dodgers enter Monday’s action with an 87-35 record, 12 games up on the Houston Astros for baseball’s best record.