Currently, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer are the only active pitchers who have surpassed 3,000 strikeouts, achieving this milestone in 2019 and 2021 respectively.

Clayton Kershaw, currently at 2,970 career strikeouts, aims to become the 20th player in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts in 2025.

However, Kershaw's health has been a concern, as he made only 22, 22, and 24 starts from 2021 to 2023, and just seven games in 2024 due to injuries.

Despite these challenges, Kershaw's impressive accolades include three Cy Young awards, a 2014 MVP award, and a career ERA of 2.50 over 2,700 innings.

Zack Greinke, with 2,979 strikeouts, is next behind Kershaw but has not pitched since 2023, making his 3,000-strikeout milestone uncertain.

Aaron Nola, currently at 1,831 strikeouts, would need consistent health and performance to realistically reach 3,000 by 2032.

Chris Sale, with 2,486 strikeouts at age 36, could reach 3,000 if he maintains health after a series of injuries, including Tommy John surgery.

Gerrit Cole, recovering from Tommy John surgery, has 2,251 strikeouts and averaged 214 strikeouts per year from 2017 to 2024, making him a future candidate despite being out for 2025.

Other potential candidates like Charlie Morton and Yu Darvish face challenges due to their age and current strikeout totals.

Young pitchers like Paul Skenes may struggle to reach 3,000 strikeouts, as the increasing prevalence of injuries among pitchers poses significant challenges.