| Corey Kluber | |
|---|---|
 Kluber with Texas Rangers in 2020 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1986-04-10)April 10, 1986 (age 39) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 1, 2011, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 20, 2023, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 116–77 |
| Earned run average | 3.44 |
| Strikeouts | 1,725 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Corey Scott Kluber (born April 10, 1986) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theCleveland Indians,Texas Rangers,New York Yankees,Tampa Bay Rays andBoston Red Sox. He made his MLB debut in 2011 as a member of the Indians. Apower pitcher, Kluber achieved highstrikeout rates through a two-seamsinker and abreaking ball that variously resembled aslider and acurveball.
Born inBirmingham, Alabama, Kluber played high-school baseball forCoppell High School inCoppell, Texas. He then attendedStetson University inDeLand, Florida, where he was namedAtlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2007, and was inducted into the Stetson Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. TheSan Diego Padres selected Kluber in the fourth round of the 2007 draft, and traded him to the Indians in 2010 as part of a three-team transaction. Kluber established himself in the Indians'starting rotation in 2013. He was signed through 2020, with a club option for 2021, after agreeing to a five-year, $38.5 million contract extension with the Indians in April 2015. Following an injury-plagued 2019 season, the Indians traded Kluber to the Rangers in December 2019, where he missed most of the 2020 season with injuries, as well. He signed with the Yankees for the 2021 season and the Rays for the 2022 season.
A three-timeMLB All-Star, Kluber is a two-time winner of theCy Young Award in theAmerican League (AL) including in 2014, his second full season in the major leagues, and in 2017. In 2016, he was named theSporting News AL Starting Pitcher of the Year. He led the major leagues inearned run average (ERA) in 2017, and has twice led the AL inwins. On May 13, 2015, Kluber became one of 20 pitchers in major league history to strike out at least 18 batters in a nine-inning game, doing so versus theSt. Louis Cardinals. In 2018, Kluber notched his first 20-win season. On May 19, 2021, Kluber threw a no-hitter against the Rangers.
Kluber attended Coppell High School in Coppell, Texas.[1] While pitching for the school's baseball team, Kluber developed a stress fracture in his elbow due to overuse by his coach Don English, requiring surgery and the insertion of two screws. He went unselected in the2004 MLB draft.[2]
Kluber began to draw notice fromcoaches atStetson University, when he pitched at the World Wood Bat Championships inJupiter, Florida.
He enrolled at Stetson, where he playedcollege baseball for theStetson Hatters baseball team in theAtlantic Sun Conference.[3][4]
As a freshman in 2005, Kluber performed as arelief pitcher, compiling a 2–2win–loss record with a 7.82earned run average (ERA) in 25innings pitched. As a sophomore, he produced a 6–5 win–loss record and a 3.61 ERA in 17 games, including 14starts. In 2007, Kluber had a 12–2 win–loss record and a 2.05 ERA with 117strikeouts.[2][3] That year, he was named theAtlantic Sun Conference's Pitcher of the Year, a second team member of the 2007 Ping! Baseball All-American Team and a member theAmerican Baseball Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region Second Team in 2007.[4][5]
TheSan Diego Padres selected Kluber in the fourth round of the2007 MLB draft.[6] Kluber signed with the Padres, receiving a $200,000signing bonus.[2] Kluber played for theFort Wayne Wizards of theSingle–AMidwest League in 2008. On August 25, 2008, he was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week.[7]
Kluber played for theLake Elsinore Storm of theHigh–ACalifornia League in 2009. On June 1, 2009, he was named the California League Pitcher of the Week.[7] He received a promotion to theSan Antonio Missions of theDouble–ATexas League in 2009, finishing the year with an 11–13 win–loss record and a 4.55 ERA.[2] On July 26, 2010, Kluber was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week.[7] He pitched to a 6–6 win–loss record with a 3.45 ERA with the Missions, while leading the Texas League instrikeouts.[2][6]
The Padres traded Kluber to theCleveland Indians on July 31, 2010, in a three-team trade also involving theSt. Louis Cardinals.[8] Cleveland sentJake Westbrook to the Cardinals while St. Louis sentRyan Ludwick to the Padres.[9] The Padres sentNick Greenwood to the Cardinals, and the Indians paid $2.7 million of Westbrook's remaining salary.[2][10] At the time of the trade, Kluber's minor league record was 18–24, and he was not ranked among the top thirty prospects in the Padres' farm system.[11][12] The Indians assigned Kluber to theAkron Aeros of the Double-AEastern League. After the 2010 season, he took part in the Indians' Winter Development Program.[13] He was added to the Indians'40-man roster after the season.[14]
Kluber played for theColumbus Clippers of theTriple–AInternational League in 2011, pitching to a 7–11 win–loss record and a 5.56 ERA.[6]
TheIndians called him up on September 1, 2011, and made his major league debut that day. During a rain-induced bullpen session in May 2012, at the recommendation of Columbus pitching coachRuben Niebla, Kluber first threw his two-seam fastball.[1][15] Kluber was brought up from Columbus in August 2012 to replace starting pitcherJosh Tomlin in the Indians' rotation. Tomlin was moved to the bullpen.[16]
Kluber began the 2013 season with Columbus, but received a promotion whenBrett Myers suffered an elbow injury.[6] On June 16, 2013, Kluber threw eight shutout innings in a 2–0 victory over theWashington Nationals.[17] He co-won the American LeaguePlayer of the Week Award for the week ending June 16, 2013, sharing the honor with teammateJason Kipnis.[18] On September 22, 2013, Kluber became the first pitcher to strike out 14 batters in consecutive starts sinceRandy Johnson in 2004.[citation needed] He finished the season with an 11–5 record and a 3.85 ERA.[2]
Kluber was named the American League Player of the Week on September 21,2014, and thePitcher of the Month for September 2014. He posted back-to-back 14 strikeout games as Cleveland stayed in contention late in the season for a wild card spot. His totals on the month included a 5–1 record, 2.09 ERA and 56 strikeouts.[19] He finished the 2014 season with an 18–9 win–loss record and a 2.44 ERA. His 18 wins were tied withMax Scherzer andJered Weaver for the most in theAmerican League (AL), and his ERA was the third-best in the league. Additionally, Kluber led the AL infielding-independent pitching.[11] He also struck out 269 batters in235+2⁄3 innings, good for second-best in the major leagues behindDavid Price's 271.
Though the Indians missed the playoffs, the 2014 season culminated with Kluber – in just his second full season – winning theAL Cy Young Award, beatingFélix Hernández in a close vote.[20] Kluber earned 17 of 30 first-place votes, with Hernandez getting the remaining 13.[21] Kluber became the fourth Indians player to win the award, followingGaylord Perry,CC Sabathia, andCliff Lee.[11] He also became the lowest-drafted player (134th overall) sinceBret Saberhagen in 1989 (480th) to win an AL Cy Young Award.[22]
On April 5 Kluber signed a guaranteed five-year extension with an additional two option years, for a team-friendly $38.5 million. On signing he remarked, "I wanted to be here. I wanted to be in Cleveland."[23] On May 13, 2015, Kluber struck out a career-high18 batters over eight shutout innings against theSt. Louis Cardinals, earning his first win of the 2015 season.[24][25] Kluber tiedBob Feller's 77-year franchise record for strikeouts in one game, Feller having done so on October 2, 1938.[26] Despite posting a 3.49 ERA and striking out 245 batters in 222 innings, Kluber suffered from poor run support for much of the 2015 season, finishing with only nine wins and an American League-leading 16 losses.
Kluber was named a member of the 2016 American LeagueAll-Star team on July 7, 2016, his first selection, as a replacement for an injuredMarco Estrada.[27] Kluber was the winning pitcher in the All-Star Game.[28] He finished the 2016 regular season with an 18–9 record, 3.14 ERA, an AL-leading 149 ERA+, and 227 strikeouts in 215 innings.
Kluber won his first two starts of the 2016 postseason, defeating theBoston Red Sox in Game 2 of theAmerican League Division Series (ALDS) and theToronto Blue Jays in Game 1 of theAmerican League Championship Series (ALCS).[29] In Game 1 of theWorld Series against theChicago Cubs, Kluber struck out nine batters in six-plus shutout innings.[30][31] He earned the win in both Games 1 and 4, and started Game 7.[28] Though the Cubs won Game 7 and claimed the Series, Kluber's efforts help boost Cleveland's opportunities: he posted a 1.83 ERA in six postseason starts.[32]
On November 7, Kluber was announced by the BBWAA as a finalist for the 2016 American League Cy Young Award, along withJustin Verlander andRick Porcello.[33] With 98 points, Kluber finished third in the voting that was announced on November 16, behind Porcello (137) and Verlander (132).[34] He was, however, selected as the ALSporting News Starting Pitcher of the Year.[35]
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On May 3,2017, after six subpar starts, the Indians placed Kluber on the 10-day disabled list due to a lower back strain. He had posted a 3–2 record, 5.06 ERA, 41 strikeouts and 13 walks in37+1⁄3 innings.[36] Upon returning from injury, Kluber's performances improved significantly.[37] On July 3, 2017, Kluber was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for June after he posted a 4–0 record, 43 IP, 1.26 ERA, 64 SO, 0.67 WHIP and 13.4 K/9 in six starts. He won the award for the third time in his career.[38] He was selected to the American League team in the2017 All-Star Game, but chose not to play.[39] On August 3, 2017, Kluber struck out 11 batters and gave up three hits in a 5–1 complete game win against theNew York Yankees, making him the fourth pitcher ever to get eight or more strikeouts in 12 consecutive starts. The preceding three wereNolan Ryan,Pedro Martínez andRandy Johnson.[40] He won his second AL Pitcher of the Month Award of the season in August, totaling a 5–1 record and 1.96 ERA. The Indians went 19–9.[41]
Kluber hurled his third shutout of the season with 12 strikeouts on September 12, 2017, versus theDetroit Tigers, giving the Indians their 20th consecutive win. That tied the2002 Oakland Athletics for the American League record. Kluber scattered five hits while allowing no walks and struck out eight.[42] He won another AL Player of the Week Award for September 17 after becoming the third Indians pitcher with multiple 250-strikeout seasons.[43] In 22 starts from June 1 through the penultimate, his ERA was 1.62.[44] Named the AL Pitcher of the Month for September, it was Kluber's such third award of the season. His record included a 5–0 W−L, 0.84 ERA, 50 strikeouts and 43 innings pitched. The Indians' record for the month was 25–4, and included the majority of a 22-game win streak that set the American League record, with Kluber helping Cleveland to three of those victories in September.[45] The club won an AL-best 102 games.[46]
In his most dominant season to date, Kluber concluded 2017 leading the major leagues or tying for the lead in each of ERA (2.25), wins (18), complete games (five), shutouts (three),[47] WHIP (0.869), SO/BB (7.36), ERA+ (202), and WAR for pitchers (8.0). He also led the AL in H/9 (6.2) and BB/9 (1.6).[48] His ERA was the lowest for an Indians pitcher to qualify for the ERA title sinceGaylord Perry in1972 (1.92).[45]
Cleveland facedNew York in theALDS, and Kluber started two of the games. He allowed nine runs and four home runs in6+2⁄3 innings as New York defeated Cleveland in five games. Speculation arose that he had reinjured his back, but Kluber denied such assertions.[49]
End of season awards for Kluber included his second Cy Young Award and selection as a starting pitcher onBaseball America's All-MLB Team.[50][51]
Kluber was selected to his third All-Star Game in July (though he did not pitch in the game), and on September 24, Kluber pitched seven shutout innings as the Indians beat theChicago White Sox 4–0, giving him his 20th win of the season – the first time in his career he had reached that milestone. He started Game 1 of theAmerican League Division Series but was the losing pitcher after giving up three home runs in 42⁄3 innings against theHouston Astros.
On May 1, 2019, Kluber fractured his right arm after being hit by a line drive during a game against theMiami Marlins.[52] He was placed on the team's injured list without a concrete timetable for his return. After pitching a simulated game on August 3, 2019, Kluber was cleared for minor league rehab assignment.[53] On August 7, 2019, Kluber pitched for theColumbus Clippers in his first rehab start, conceding two runs in three innings.[54] Continuing his recovery process, he pitched four innings for theAkron RubberDucks on August 13, 2019.[55] However, abdominal tightness halted his third rehab start on August 18, 2019. Kluber had thrown 20 pitches in one inning for Columbus before exiting.[56] Though Kluber did not play for the Indians again in 2019, the Indians announced on October 31, 2019, that they had exercised their $17.5 millionclub option on Kluber for the 2020 season.[57]
On December 15, 2019, Cleveland traded Kluber and cash considerations to theTexas Rangers in exchange forDelino DeShields Jr. andEmmanuel Clase.[58] On July 26, 2020, Kluber made his Rangers debut during the shortened 2020 season but lasted just 1 inning after experiencing shoulder tightness. He was subsequently diagnosed with a tornteres major muscle, sending him to the Rangers' injured list, thus ending his season.[59]
On January 27, 2021, Kluber signed a one-year, $11 million contract with theNew York Yankees.[60] He earned his first win for the Yankees on April 27, 2021, against theBaltimore Orioles.[61] He earned his 100th career win on May 2, pitching eight scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers.[62]
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On May 19, 2021, Kluber pitched the12th no-hitter in Yankees history against his team the previous season, theTexas Rangers. He threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes and struck out nine batters in a 2–0 win, with a third-inning walk toCharlie Culberson being the only blemish in an otherwiseperfect game. It was the Yankees' first no-hitter sinceDavid Cone's perfect game in 1999. Moreover, the no-hitter occurred one day after another no-hitter had been thrown bySpencer Turnbull of the Detroit Tigers, and was the sixth no-hitter overall of the 2021 MLB season.[63] The homestanding Rangers gave out promotionalbobbleheads of Kluber to fans before the game, as Kluber had pitched for them in 2020 when all their fan promotions were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[64] On May 25, Kluber exited a game against theToronto Blue Jays after experiencing a shoulder injury. An MRI revealed that he had suffered a strain to thesubscapularis muscle of his right shoulder, and was expected to miss two months of the 2021 season.[65] He was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 5.[66] He made his return against Los Angeles Angels on August 30, 2021.[67] In 16 games, Kluber was 5–3 with a 3.83 ERA and 82 strikeouts.[68] Following the season, he became a free agent.[69]
On December 1, 2021, Kluber signed a one-year contract with theTampa Bay Rays, with $8 million guaranteed salary and $5 million in achievable incentives.[70]
During the 2022 season, he pitched to a 10–10 record with a 4.34 ERA, and his 3.0% walk percentage was the lowest in MLB among qualified pitchers.[71]
On January 12, 2023, Kluber signed a one-year contract with theBoston Red Sox with a club option for 2024.[72] The deal was reportedly worth $10 million and the option $11 million.[73] Kluber wasBoston's Opening Day starting pitcher for 2023.[74][75] In nine starts to begin the season, Kluber posted an unsightly 6.26 ERA with a 1.89 strikeout-to-walk ratio. On May 24, the Red Sox moved Kluber out of the starting rotation and into his firstbullpen assignment since 2013.[76] He was placed on the paternity list on May 30,[77] and activated on June 2.[78] Kluber's shaky performances continued as a relief pitcher, but on June 20 he recorded his first careersave, albeit while allowing five hits, three home runs, and four earned runs in three innings pitched, closing out a 10–4 Red Sox win over theMinnesota Twins.[79] The following day, he was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.[80] On August 25, Kluber was transferred to the 60-day injured list.[81] On September 16, Kluber was scratched from a rehab start and ruled out for the remainder of the season.[82]
He became a free agent following the season and announced his retirement on February 9, 2024.[83][84]
| Name of award | Times | Dates | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| American League Pitcher of the Month | 5 | September 2014, August 2016, June, August and September 2017 | [19][38][41][45] |
| American League Player of the Week | 4 | June 16, 2013; September 21, 2014; June 25 and September 17, 2017 | [43] |
| Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year | 1 | 2007 | [4] |
| Bob Feller Man of the Year | 2 | 2014,2017 | [85] |
| Cy Young Award | 2 | 2014, 2017 | [20][50] |
| Major League Baseball All-Star | 3 | 2016,2017,2018 | [27][39] |
| The Sporting News American League Starting Pitcher of the Year | 1 | 2016 | [35] |
| Lou Gehrig Memorial Award | 1 | 2019 | [86] |
| Category | Times | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted ERA+ leader | 2 | 2016, 2017 |
| Complete games leader | 2 | 2015, 2017 |
| ERA champion | 1 | 2017 |
| Games started leader | 1 | 2014 |
| Losses leader | 1 | 2015 |
| Shutouts leader | 2 | 2016, 2017 |
| Strikeout-to-walk ratio leader | 1 | 2017 |
| Walks plus hits per inning pitched leader | 1 | 2017 |
| Wins above replacement leader for pitchers | 2 | 2014, 2017 |
| Winning percentage leader | 1 | 2017 |
| Wins leader | 2 | 2014, 2017 |
| Notes: Through 2017 season. PerBaseball-Reference.com. | ||
Kluber threw five pitches: afour-seam fastball, asinker with atwo-seam fastball grip, acutter, abreaking ball, and achangeup.[87][88][89] His most dominant pitches were his two-seam sinker,[9][12][90] which he first learned in 2011 as a member of theColumbus Clippers,[11][91] and his breaking ball,[88][92] which variously resembled aslider and acurveball.[92][93]
Kluber was well known for his stoicism while on the mound.[30][1][89][94] His listed height was 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m).[9]
Kluber and his wife, Amanda, have three children. They reside in her hometown ofWinchester, Massachusetts.[95]
In November 2014, Kluber was inducted into the Stetson Athletics Hall of Fame,[96] and into the Atlantic Sun Conference Hall of Fame the following year.[97]
On May 14, 2025, Kluber was hired by theCleveland Guardians to serve as a special assistant of pitching.[98]
Kluber has been named the recipient of the 2017 Bob Feller Man of the Year Award as voted by the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, honoring the pitcher as the Indians' top player for this past season. Kluber, who also won the award in '14, became the first starting pitcher since Gaylord Perry (1972, '74) to take home the honor twice.
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher May 19, 2021 | Succeeded by |
