Kershaw strikes out his 3,000th batter

Christian pitcher Clayton Kershaw just struck out his 3,000th batter — registering him into the exclusive ranks of MLB hurlers that includes just 19 other guys.

The 37-year-old south paw achieved the feat against the White Sox tonight, striking out —- in the — inning.

Kershaw crowned an extraordinary Major League Baseball career. Recruited by the Dodgers out of high school in 2006, the Texas native is a 10-time All Star, 3-time Cy Young Award, the 2014 National League MVP and a World Series champion (2020).

But his greatest glory, he says, is what he does for the Lord.

“Baseball’s just temporary,” he says. “Don’t get me wrong, I love baseball. I’m very thankful for the opportunity that I have. I have so much fun playing the game. But I know, at the same time, that there’s a whole other eternal life for me.”

Kershaw became a Christian out of his parents’ divorce. “I was worried all the time,” he remembers. “My parents got divorced when I was 10. I had so much anxiety.”

He attended church with his mom and in middle school became “confirmed” in the Methodist church. But in high school, he understood better and deepened his relationship. He did so well in high school baseball that he entered the draft straightway.

As drafting was going on, he waited and hoped and worried. Eventually, he decided to not worry and turn the uncertainty of his future completely over to God.

“When I relinquished all control in my life was the day I got drafted. That was life-changing,” he says. “Even talking about it now chokes me up because it’s amazing the providence God had in my life. God was there the whole time. I just didn’t bother to look.”

He doesn’t pray to win: “The prayer I say before I go out there and pitch is not ‘God, let me win today’ or ‘God help me pitch good,’ but ‘God, just be with me.’”

His favorite verse is Col. 3:23. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not man.”