The Dodgers are playing great, they’re getting great production from both their lineup and their pitching staff, but there’s a guy in the minors that’s pretty much forcing his way higher and higher into the system and appears to be ready for the big show.  His name?  Clayton Kershaw.  Kershaw was a 1st round draft pick in 2006 (7th overall) and is widely considered the best pitching prospect in all of baseball.  Now 20 years old, Kershaw has been labeled by some as the next Sandy Koufax, who was (coincidentally) also a left handed pitcher for the Dodgers.  The kid has stuff that’s way beyond his years.  A fastball that tops out at 96 MPH and some sick secondary pitches, most notably his breaking ball.  He started out his professional career in the Gulf Coast League, where in 37 innings struck out 54, only walked 5, and posted a 1.95 ERA.  He was pushed up to A ball in 2007 and again dominated.  His 134 K’s in 97 innings to go along with his 2.77 ERA made the Dodgers promote him to AA Jacksonville, where he was a boy among men in age, but again proved that he belonged.  In a level that has guys anywhere from 21-27 years old on average, the 19 year old put up a 3.65 ERA in limited innings and had more strikeouts (29) than innings pitched (24).

He started out in Jacksonville in 2008 and has built on his success.   He has been mowing down all opponents this year, outright domination.  In his 32 innings so far, he has struck out 36 and has a 1.11 ERA.  A promotion to AAA Las Vegas is possible, but it has the Dodgers front office thinking.

I’m sure most of the scouts and high ups for the Dodgers expected Kershaw’s road to the majors to be slow, and his ETA was around 2010-2011, but he is forcing his way up with his outstanding numbers.   With stats like this, it’s almost impossible to keep him out of Los Angeles.  Ned Coletti might take a risk and give him a shot in June or July, and I have a feeling that he won’t be in the minors anymore after that.

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