Introduction to the 3,000-Strikeouts Club
Clayton Kershaw’s longevity has seen him reach another milestone. The Los Angeles Dodgers star threw the 3,000th strikeout of his career against the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, joining an exclusive list of MLB pitchers. The 37-year-old Kershaw entered the game just three strikeouts away from the milestone, and is now the 20th pitcher to reach the mark. He’s also the third active player in that category alongside two other all-time greats.
Overview of the Achievement
Here is the full list of MLB pitchers who have thrown 3,000 strikeouts or more:
Here are five things to know about Dodgers left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
Who Has the Most Strikeouts in MLB History?
Nolan Ryan has the most strikeouts in MLB history with 5,714 tallied across 27 seasons. He played for the New York Mets, Houston Astros, the then-California Angels and Texas Rangers.
MLB Pitchers in the 3,000-Strikeouts Club
Here’s the list of the pitchers above 3,000 strikeouts in chronological order (year achieved in parentheses):
- Walter Johnson, Washington Senators: 3,508 (1923)
- Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals: 3,117 (1974)
- Gaylord Perry, San Diego Padres: 3,534 (1978)
- Nolan Ryan, Houston Astros: 5,714 (1980)
- Tom Seaver, Cincinnati Reds: 3,640 (1981)
- Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies: 4,136 (1981)
- Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago Cubs: 3,192 (1982)
- Don Sutton, Milwaukee Brewers: 3.574 (1983)
- Phil Niekro, New York Yankees: 3,342 (1984)
- Bert Blyleven, Minnesota Twins: 3,701 (1986)
- Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays: 4,672 (1998)
- Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks: 4,875 (2000)
- Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs: 3,371 (2005)
- Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox: 3,116 (2006)
- Pedro Martinez, New York Mets: 3,154 (2007)
- John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves: 3,084 (2008)
- CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (2019)
- Justin Verlander, Houston Astros: 3,471 and counting (2019)
- Max Scherzer, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3,419 and counting (2021)
- Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers: 3,000 and counting (2025)
Active MLB Pitchers in the 3,000-Strikeouts Club
Alongside Kershaw, Justin Verlander of the San Francisco Giants and Max Scherzer of the Blue Jays are the active pitchers in the club.
Here are five things to know about three-time AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander.
Conclusion
The 3,000-strikeouts club is an exclusive group of MLB pitchers who have achieved this milestone. Clayton Kershaw’s recent achievement has added him to this list, alongside other all-time greats such as Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Randy Johnson. The list continues to grow with active pitchers like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer still adding to their totals.
FAQs
Q: Who has the most strikeouts in MLB history?
A: Nolan Ryan has the most strikeouts in MLB history with 5,714.
Q: Who are the active MLB pitchers in the 3,000-strikeouts club?
A: Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw are the active pitchers in the club.
Q: How many pitchers have achieved 3,000 strikeouts or more in their careers?
A: There are 20 pitchers who have achieved this milestone.
