Fans Are Stunned by How Big MLB Pitching Rubber Is After Dodgers Dug It Out

Clayton Kershaw notched his 3,000th strikeout on Wednesday night and was awarded the massive piece of hardware.

Clayton Kershaw got to take home a huge memento on Wednesday night after notching his 3,000th career strikeout. / Screengrab via @Dodgers on X (formerly Twitter)

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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