The Dodgers are about to welcome back the team's legendary left-handed Kershaw for their 18th season

Adding a future Hall of Fame pitcher to the rotation as a mid-season reinforcement is a rare move. It's the epitome of the special bond between the Dodgers and left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who is about to enter its 18th year of major league partnership.

After rehabilitating his left knee and left toe, the 37-year-old will make his season debut from a 60-day injury list against the Angels on Saturday night. He will join Zack Wheat and Bill Russell as one of three Dodgers players in 18 seasons in franchise history.

The three-time Celeron Award winner and 2014 National League MVP is approaching a major milestone in his career – just 32 strikeouts away from 3,000. But Kershaw admits: "My mind is full of Saturday's race and I haven't thought much about the 3,000K. Returning to the Pitcher's Hill is an important step, and then the season is over. "

When Kershaw signed a contract extension with Dodge in this year's spring training, he admitted that the left toe rehabilitation process was difficult. An injury to that part of the game last August caused him to be reimbursed early for just seven starts in the 2024 season and ultimately miss the playoffs. Before the start of the rehabilitation game in mid-April, he revealed that his toe was still affected in the final stage of the pitch, but his arm was in good condition, so he was ready to go on the board at that time.

After five minor league rehab games, Kershaw felt a turning point in his body: "In the last few rehab games, I focused more on the quality of my pitch and the hitter than on the feel of my feet. This is a positive sign on a physical level, and now it is just a matter of getting back to the form of a stable hitter. It's a lot better than worrying about injuries. "

Kershaw admits that in the past he took health for granted, but that is no longer the case. He said he returned with more gratitude this season and cherished the opportunity to contribute to the team every day in a healthy way: "After a long absence, you realise how much you miss the competition and how much you miss being part of the team. It's a lot of gratitude to be back in this position – and of course, if I throw badly on the board, the joy is fleeting. Performance remains a key factor. "

Kershaw's return comes at a time when the Dodgers are in desperate need of reinforcements, with opening season rotation members Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki all on the injury list.

Reflecting on his 18-year exclusive partnership with the Dodgers (a rarity in franchise history and almost unheard of in modern baseball), Kershaw credits it with a long-term commitment on both sides: "I can't be more grateful to the Dodgers for continuing to give me pitching opportunities, which is exactly what I've been asking for all my life. At the heart of a long-term partnership is keeping promises, not anything else. "

When asked about the secret of 18 years of loyalty, Kershaw stressed: "I just want to stand up and pitch the ball on the pitcher's mound. The team gave me this opportunity year after year and that's all. "

Now, the legendary left pitcher is about to start the 18th chapter of his career under the familiar Dodger blue jersey.