Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw gave a positive update on his recovery this spring.

“It’s not 100 percent yet but it’s getting there,” Kershaw said Thursday. “Feels good.”

Kershaw will be eligible to return from the 60-day injured list at the end of May, and is aiming to make his 2025 debut for the Dodgers right around then.

Kershaw was spotted at Camelback Ranch the first day of spring training, an indication that he would be wearing Dodger blue for at least one more season. The left-hander said he hopes to retire when he is ready, rather than it being dictated by injuries.

“I don’t want [injuries] to be the reason that I stopped playing,” he said. “I don’t want to be, like, ‘I just can’t do it, [I’m] hurt.’ Hopefully, I can walk out on my own terms, whenever that is.”

Although the road to recovery has been long for the veteran southpaw, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Kershaw will travel to Japan with the team for the Tokyo Series.

Kershaw underwent two offseason surgeries in an effort to prepare for the 2025 season. The future Hall of Fame pitcher spoke about the challenge his recovery posed throughout the offseason.

“With the shoulder, you can still walk and do a lot of stuff,” Kershaw said. “I was back to being a normal dad pretty quick. But being on crutches, being in a boot, having every step kind of hurt, it was hard. I don’t know if I expected all that a foot surgery entails, but [I’m] thankful now to be on the other side and feel like I’m getting closer to being 100 percent.”

The 2025 season is poised to have many highlights, but one of the Dodgers’ top moments will be the return of Kershaw.