Highland Park graduate Clayton Kershaw, who is now a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, received the MLB's 2011 National League Cy Young Award on Thursday.

Kershaw received "27 of a possible 32 first-place votes" for the award, according to the MLB website. Phillies' pitchers Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee were also in contention for the honor.

Kershaw has some pretty impressive stats. This season he led the NL with 21 wins, 248 strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA.

Kershaw won a slew of other awards this season as well, including the NL pitcher's Triple Crown, a Gold Glove, and Dodger's Pitcher of the Year. He was also selected to pitch for the NL in the 2011 All-Star Game.