Dodgers News: Clayton Kershaw Wins Players Choice For Best Pitcher

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is regarded as the best pitcher in all of baseball and his peers agree with those sentiments. Kershaw was the players choice for his 16-9 season, where he led the league with 232 strikeouts and should be the recipient of the 2013 NL Cy Young award.

Kershaw dominated from the start of the season as he pitched a shutout on Opening Day and delivered the game-winning hit with a solo home run to dead center against the San Francisco Giants. MLB Network tweeted that Kershaw won the award over Francisco Liriano and Jose Fernadez:

Congratulations to the @Dodgers‘ @ClaytonKersh22 on winning the NL Outstanding Pitcher Award! #PlayersChoiceAwards

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 5, 2013

Next up for Kershaw is whether or not he’ll sign a long-term extension with the Dodgers as the two sides spoke on two occasions, but talks broke down. Just 25 years old and not yet in his prime, Kershaw will likely surpass the contracts signed by Tigers ace Justin Verlander and Mariners ace Felix Hernandez as he’ll likely be the first $200 million pitcher.

Meanwhile, Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig wasn’t as lucky as he lost out on the Players Choice NL Rookie of the Year to Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. Puig came on to the scene quickly during his rookie season, hitting seven home runs in his first month, but Fernandez is seen as the likely recipient of the NL Rookie of the Year award.

Meanwhile, Kershaw was on MLB Network talking about winning the award and what it means to him: