"You don't ever underestimate him" - Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior praises Clayton Kershaw's remarkable comeback

Hopefully it's not just Los Angeles Dodgers fans soaking up as much Clayton Kershaw time as they can. The future Hall of Famer may not be the pitching juggernaut that he was in the prime of his career, however, he is proving that he can still be an effective pitcher at the major league level.

Despite his inconsistent performances on the mound so far this year, what makes Clayton Kershaw impressive is the fact that he is even pitching right now. The 36-year-old underwent major shoulder surgery this offseason and has been working his way back to the rotation. The fact that he is able to contribute for the Los Angeles Dodgers is impressive.

Even though Kershaw might not be at his elite level right now, Los Angeles Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior knows to not count him out.

"You don't ever underestimate him," Prior said of Kershaw in an interview with MLB Network Radio. Kershaw's coach continued to explain how when people want to write off the ace, "He just flips the script and goes out and does what he does."

"He can stay ahead of hitters and keep them guessing and that's what makes him special," Prior said. "At the end of the day, he's relentless, he's going to outwill you, he's not going to give in."

Clayton Kershaw's return could be crucial for the Dodgers amid growing IL

Even though Kershaw may not be back to his Hall of Fame level, having him in the rotation is massive for the Dodgers, as the team continues to struggle with injuries. It remains to be seen who is cursing the Dodgers' health, however, it has been a rough year in terms of injuries for Los Angeles.

Last week, the team announced that promising rookie River Ryan was diagnosed with a UCL strain which will bring an end to his impressive first MLB season. It is another blow to a Dodgers team that is already without Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May and Walker Buehler to name a few.

"Clayton Kershaw's curveball WILL ALWAYS be a thing of beauty" - @BBGreatMoments

If Kershaw can continue to round back into his superstar form, he could be an essential piece of a potentially deep postseason run. In order to achieve this, the future Hall of Famer will need to continue denying Father Time for the rest of the season.