Longtime Los Angeles Dodgers great Clayton Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to tally 3,000 career strikeouts on Wednesday night when he fanned Vinny Capra in his team's eventual 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.
The 37-year-old received a standing ovation following the inning-ending K. Then, after the game, the Dodgers' grounds crew took the time to dig out the pitching rubber on which he accomplished the feat and awarded it to the ten-time All-Star. Take a look:
This is how you take out the pitching rubber. 😳 pic.twitter.com/YuEQneiqV0
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 3, 2025
As it turns out, the pitching rubbers in the MLB are absolutely massive—and far bigger than fans were aware of, because most of it stays out of view beneath the dirt. Here's a look at some of the best reactions to the revelation across X (formerly Twitter):
Is that a pitching rubber or an iceberg because 90% of it was under the surface! 😅
— Alex Gam (@AlexGam2013) July 3, 2025
I never the rubber was that big wtf https://t.co/mLPKFLFq8P
— ᴾ¹³ᶜᴱ🥇 (@TR3YP13CE) July 3, 2025
Learn something new every day. Never had any idea it was a 4x4 lol
— Serpy. 🖤⚡💀 (@SerpentinexBLK) July 3, 2025
I truly did not expect it to be that big https://t.co/q2rH80AWOm
— sad bitch #1 (@jjessllauren) July 3, 2025
I honestly had no idea it went that deep into the ground!!
— Laura G (@LaurasMiscMovie) July 3, 2025
I actually had no idea the pitching rubber was that big https://t.co/exXo3da4uN
— Jack M (@starblade125) July 3, 2025
Man, I had no idea it was THAT thick! LOL
— Ken Scott (@foomper) July 3, 2025
I had no idea that the pitcher's rubber was so meaty. https://t.co/KKJXIEc3Js
— Howlraiser (@AStateFanRules) July 3, 2025
Didn’t think that pitching rubber was that thick https://t.co/34LTuXn28n
— Intern Izzy 🇵🇷 (@InternIzzy) July 3, 2025
You learn something new every day.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Fans Are Stunned by How Big MLB Pitching Rubber Is After Dodgers Dug It Out.