Clayton Kershaw is inching closer to making his return to the Majors.
After undergoing offseason left toe and left knee surgeries, Kershaw made his second rehab start for Double-A Tulsa on Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits in three innings while striking out four batters.
The longtime Dodgers’ lefty faced off against Northwest Arkansas, who slotted MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 Royals prospect Jac Caglianone (No. 20 overall) in the three-spot. The former Florida Gator standout got the better of Kershaw, lacing a double in the first inning and singling in his second plate appearance.
Kershaw made his first rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City on April 16, striking out two batters in three scoreless innings. It was his first game action since Aug. 30, 2024, when Kershaw left early from his start due to left toe pain, which ultimately sidelined him for the rest of the season and the Dodgers' World Series run.
Before starting his rehab assignment, Kershaw told MLB.com’s Sonja Chen that his arm was in better shape than his left toe. Kershaw is eligible to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list in late May, although he’s not necessarily expected to be reinstated once he’s eligible.
Kershaw -- a three-time Cy Young Award winner who is entering his 18th Major League season -- will enter the 2025 season just 32 strikeouts short of 3,000 strikeouts. If the 37-year-old reaches that milestone, he’d become just the 20th pitcher to do so and the first since Max Scherzer in 2021.