The 3,000 strikeout club in Major League Baseball is an elite group of 20 pitchers who have recorded 3,000 or more strikeouts in their entire careers. Till July 2, 2025, this elite group had 19 members, but Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Chicago White Sox's Vinny Capra in the sixth inning Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, and he became the 20th pitcher in baseball history to reach that milestone. The total strikeouts are a huge deal as it shows the player is talented, has incredible skill, and has many years of top-level performance. Being a member almost guarantees a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It's even more exclusive than the 3,000-hit club for batters. Getting 3000 Strikeouts as a pitcher in MLB is one of the most remarkable and rarest achievements.
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List of Pitchers in the 3,000 Strikeout Club
As of 2025, only 20 pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball have managed to record 3,000 or more strikeouts in their careers. This shows just how rare and difficult this achievement is. Below we have listed pitchers in the 3,000 strikeout club along with their career strikeout totals:
| Rank | Pitcher Name | Primary Team(s) | Total Strikeouts | Date of the 3,000th K | Career Innings Pitched (IP) |
| 1 | Nolan Ryan | Angels, Rangers, Astros | 5,714 | July 4, 1980 | 5,386.0 |
| 2 | Randy Johnson | Mariners, Diamondbacks | 4,875 | Sep 10, 2000 | 4,135.1 |
| 3 | Roger Clemens | Red Sox, Yankees | 4,672 | July 5, 1998 | 4,916.2 |
| 4 | Steve Carlton | Phillies | 4,136 | April 29, 1981 | 5,217.1 |
| 5 | Bert Blyleven | Twins, Rangers | 3,701 | Aug 1, 1986 | 4,970.0 |
| 6 | Tom Seaver | Mets, Reds | 3,640 | April 18, 1981 | 4,783.0 |
| 7 | Don Sutton | Dodgers, Astros | 3,574 | June 24, 1983 | 5,282.1 |
| 8 | Gaylord Perry | Giants, Indians | 3,534 | Oct 1, 1978 | 5,350.1 |
| 9 | Walter Johnson | Senators | 3,509 | July 22, 1923 | 5,914.2 |
| 10 | Greg Maddux | Braves, Cubs | 3,371 | July 26, 2005 | 5,008.1 |
| 11 | Phil Niekro | Braves | 3,342 | July 4, 1984 | 5,404.1 |
| 12 | Justin Verlander | Astros, Tigers | 3,471+ | Sep 28, 2019 | 3,483.1+ |
| 13 | Max Scherzer | Nationals, Tigers, Mets | 3,419+ | Sep 12, 2021 | 2,891.0+ |
| 14 | Fergie Jenkins | Chicago Cubs | 3,192 | May 25, 1982 | 4,500.2 |
| 15 | Pedro Martínez | Red Sox, Expos | 3,154 | Sep 3, 2007 | 2,827.1 |
| 16 | Bob Gibson | Cardinals | 3,117 | July 17, 1974 | 3,884.1 |
| 17 | Curt Schilling | Phillies, Red Sox | 3,116 | Aug 30, 2006 | 3,261.0 |
| 18 | C.C. Sabathia | Yankees, Indians | 3,093 | April 30, 2019 | 3,577.1 |
| 19 | John Smoltz | Braves | 3,084 | April 22, 2008 | 3,473.0 |
| 20 | Clayton Kershaw | Dodgers | 3,000 | July 2, 2025 | 2,787.0 |
Source:MLB
Has Clayton Kershaw Hit 3,000 Strikeouts?
Clayton Kershaw, the legendary left-hander for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is indeed a proud member of the 3,000-strikeout club. He achieved this amazing milestone on July 2, 2025, during a game against the Chicago White Sox. Reaching 3,000 strikeouts cemented his status as one of the greatest pitchers of his generation and a sure-fire Hall of Famer. Achieving 3,000 strikeouts is a truly remarkable feat in baseball and separates the very good pitchers from the legendary ones.
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Pitchers with 3,000 Strikeouts Not in the Hall of Fame
While the 3,000-strikeout mark almost guarantees a Hall of Fame spot, a few names on this list are not yet enshrined. This is typically for reasons like pitchers like Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are still playing or have only recently retired. This also means they are not yet eligible for Hall of Fame consideration as per MLB. Apart from this, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling both have more than 3,000 strikeouts but have not been voted into the Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. For Clemens, this is largely due to his connection to the steroid era. For Schilling, it relates to controversial off-field comments and actions.
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