Dodgers News: Padres Blake Snell Calls Ability To Watch Clayton Kershaw Pitch a "Blessing"
Every Dodger fan generally has a few names throughout the years that stick with them. It could be Fernando Valenzuela or Sandy Koufax. Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig? They may also be there. But one that's surely worthy of inclusion that transcends generations would be left-handed pitcher and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw.
There's quite a few moments that will be remembered when it comes to the 35-year-old. Almost immediately, his no-hitter in 2014 against the Colorado Rockies comes to mind, along with him finally becoming a World Series champion in 2020.
Kershaw has definitely captivated many an imagination throughout his 16 years in Dodger blue -- and you can count a fellow lefty hurler among those impressed.
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Blake Snell called being able to watch Kershaw a "blessing" on Wednesday afternoon, which is both well deserved and significant praise coming from him.
"Watching him pitch is a true blessing. His talent is one I don't think we will see for a long time."
Via AM570 LA Sports Radio
Even though his team has been arguably the most disappointing in baseball this season, the Padres southpaw is in the midst of one of the best years of his career.
Snell is a contender for the National League Cy Young Award, as he has a 2.52 ERA with 209 strikeouts over 161 innings in 2023 entering Wednesday's start against LA.
Both those stats are the second-best of his career behind only the 2018 season -- when he won the American League Cy Young Award with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The impending free agent has once again established himself as one of MLB's premier pitchers, and he has quite the respect for the best pitcher of his generation in Kershaw -- an all-time great that will surely find himself enshrined as a Hall of Famer in Cooperstown soon after he decides to put a cap on his illustrious career.