Clayton Kershaw wins 2013 Warren Spahn Award

Dodgers ace left-hander Clayton Kershaw won the 2013 Warren Spahn Award, presented annually to the top left-handed pitcher in MLB by the Bricktown Royalty Club and the Jim Thorpe Association in Oklahoma City. It is the second time in three years Kershaw has won the award.

The award, which is based on the pitching triple crown categories of wins, strikeouts and earned run average, will be presented to Kershaw on January 28 during an award gala at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

Spahn was one of the great left-handed pitchers in baseball history, a Hall of Famer who pitched 21 seasons and led the NL in ERA three times and in strikeouts four times. He won 20 games 13 times and his 363 wins rank sixth in MLB history.

Kershaw was 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA in 2013, his third straight season leading the majors in ERA. Kershaw also led the National League in strikeouts for the second time in three seasons, pacing the senior circuit with 232 punchouts.

"It is such an honor to represent Warren Spahn and his many accomplishments on the mound," Kershaw said in a statement. "Thank you to the Bricktown Rotary Club for awarding me this prestigious honor. I’m ever so grateful for your ongoing support. Lord willing, I look forward to being a good steward of all this award embodies."

It figures to be a busy award season for Kershaw, who is the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award, which like the Spahn Award he also captured in 2011. Kershaw also won the 2013 Branch Rickey Award, which recognized Kershaw's performance both on and off the field.

"Clayton led MLB in both strikeouts and the lowest ERA," said Greg Spahn, son of Warren Spahn, in a statement. "It is the first time a pitcher finished the season below 2.00 since 2005. Now he’s leading the Dodgers into post-season play. Clayton is a true competitor and has earned a second Warren Spahn Award."