The Dodgers did not make their first selection in the 2025 MLB Draft until No. 40 overall — a consequence of exceeding the luxury tax threshold. However, when their moment finally came, the team chose a left-hander who had just led Arkansas to the College World Series semifinals and ranked fifth in Division I with 126 strikeouts.
That pitcher was Zach Root, a Fort Myers native and lifelong Dodgers fan. He grew up studying Clayton Kershaw not just for inspiration, but as a blueprint. “Growing up, my dad always made me watch Kershaw and learn to pitch like him,” LA’s new addition shared after the draft. “I’ve just been watching Dodger baseball for as long as I can remember, because of Kershaw.”
For Root, getting drafted by the team he modeled his game after was not just a milestone; it was the realization of a dream shaped pitch by pitch in front of his childhood TV.
Dodgers draft pick Zach Root grew up a Dodgers fan and studying Clayton Kershaw:
“Growing up, my dad always made me watch Kershaw and learn to pitch like him. I’ve just been watching Dodger baseball for as long as I can remember, because of Kershaw.”
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) July 14, 2025
What makes this more impressive is that he is not just echoing a legend. Root is backing it up with results. After transferring from East Carolina, he took over the Friday night starter role at Arkansas, a position vacated by 2024 No. 5 overall pick Hagen Smith. That is not an easy role to fill, especially in the SEC; however, Root made it look routine. He racked up 126 strikeouts — fifth-most in Division I — and posted a 3.62 ERA across 19 starts. Such a performance earned him Third Team All-American honors and a spot on the All-SEC First Team. Safe to say, Root delivered.
However, Root’s value to the Dodgers goes deeper than numbers. Management clearly saw someone who fits with the team’s pitching culture and already looks like a Dodger. This is what made the pick feel personal. Root was not just a high-upside lefty; he was a star who grew up watching their ace and sculpted his entire game around him. Such a fit is not teachable, it is rare, organic, and golden when you find it on draft night.
However, while Root prepares to step into the Dodgers’ future, the veteran he grew up idolizing could be nearing the final chapter of his own. As MLB watches closely, it is clear the baton is not just being passed quietly; it is being passed with reverence.
Clayton Kershaw’s legacy looms large as Dodgers prep for life after their ace
Clayton Kershaw could still be lacing up his cleats, but whispers have grown louder—the 2025 All-Star Game could be his last. With more than 3,000 strikeouts now in the rearview and a resume that includes three Cy Young Awards, a Triple Crown, and an MVP, the veteran southpaw stands at a career crossroads. Even after reaching a milestone only four left-handers in MLB history have achieved, he remains grounded. “I think I can do it, and I will. Hopefully it will be soon,” Kershaw said, and this statement mixes determination with the quiet recognition that time is catching up. For over 20 years, Kershaw has delivered for one team, and now that chapter looks to be inching toward its final pages.
Yet what sets the star apart is not just the hardware, but how seamlessly dominance and humility have coexisted in his career. He led the league in ERA five times, helped secure a World Series in 2020, and became a team cornerstone known for his quiet leadership and relentless work ethic. Max Muncy, who has shared a dugout with him since 2018, praised his current All-Star nod as “the right way to honor a man who has given his all for baseball.” This sentiment was not isolated. Across the sport, stars and fans alike understand that Kershaw represents more than numbers—he symbolizes an era. With one final run possibly on the horizon, the team is not just preparing for life after a pitcher; they are preparing to say goodbye to a pillar.
July 2, 2025, Los Angeles, California, USA: The three-time Cy Young Award winner and starting pitcher, Clayton Kershaw 22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reaches 3000th strike outs during their regular season MLB, Baseball Herren, USA game against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday July 2, 2025 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers is the only team that Kershaw has played for during his 18-year career. Kershaw becomes the 20th MLB pitcher to reach this milestone. JAVIER ROJAS/PI Los Angeles USA – ZUMAp124 20250702_zaa_p124_040 Copyright: xJavierxRojasx
As Kershaw edges toward his final act, Root steps in with a legacy to honor and a future to shape. The Dodgers are not just drafting talent—they are nurturing continuity. Keep watching, because what began as admiration could soon evolve into the next great left-handed chapter in the Dodgers’ history.
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