Corey Scott Kluber (born April 10, 1986) is an American
professional baseball
Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world.
Modern professional ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
who is a free agent. He has played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...
,
Texas Rangers,
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
and
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...
. He made his MLB debut in 2011 as a member of the Indians. A
power pitcher
Power pitcher is a term in baseball for a pitcher who relies on pitch velocity at the expense of accuracy. Power pitchers usually record a high number of strikeouts, and statistics such as strikeouts per 9 innings pitched are common measures of ...
, Kluber achieves high
strikeout rates through a two-seam
sinker and a
breaking ball
In baseball, a breaking ball is a pitch that does not travel straight as it approaches the batter; it will have sideways or downward motion on it, sometimes both (see slider). A breaking ball is not a specific pitch by that name, but is any ...
that variously resembles a
slider
Slider or Sliders may refer to:
Arts
* K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise
* '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex
* ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series
* ...
and a
curveball.
A native of
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...
, Kluber played high school baseball for
Coppell High School
Coppell High School is a public high school located in Coppell, Texas. It is part of the Coppell Independent School District located in extreme northwest Dallas County. In 2015, the school was rated " Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agenc ...
in
Coppell, Texas. He then attended
Stetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I–4 corridor in Central Florida with the primary undergraduate campus in DeLand. The university was founded in 1883 and was later established in 1887 ...
in
DeLand, Florida
DeLand is a city in central Florida. It is the county seat of Volusia County. The city sits approximately north of the central business district of Orlando, and approximately west of the central business district of Daytona Beach. As of the 2020 ...
, where he was named
Atlantic Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2007, and was inducted into the Stetson Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014. The
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...
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
R
rabbit ears
:Indicates a participant in the game who hears things perhaps too well for their own good. A player who becomes nervous or chokes when opposing players or fans yell at or razz them is said to have rabbit ears. Also, an umpire ...
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-time
MLB All-Star
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual professional baseball game sanctioned by Major League Baseball (MLB) and contested between the all-stars from the American League (AL) and National ...
, Kluber is a two-time winner of the
Cy Young Award in the
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
(AL) including in 2014, his second full season in the major leagues, and in 2017. In 2016, he was named the
''Sporting News'' AL Starting Pitcher of the Year. He led the major leagues in
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA) in 2017, and has twice led the AL in
wins. 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 the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
. In 2018, Kluber notched his first 20-win season. On May 19, 2021, Kluber threw a no-hitter against the Rangers.
Early life
Kluber attended
Coppell High School
Coppell High School is a public high school located in Coppell, Texas. It is part of the Coppell Independent School District located in extreme northwest Dallas County. In 2015, the school was rated " Met Standard" by the Texas Education Agenc ...
in
Coppell, Texas.
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 the
2004 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.
[
Kluber began to draw notice from ]coaches
Coach may refer to:
Guidance/instruction
* Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities
* Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process
** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers
Transportation
* Coac ...
at Stetson University
Stetson University is a private university with four colleges and schools located across the I–4 corridor in Central Florida with the primary undergraduate campus in DeLand. The university was founded in 1883 and was later established in 1887 ...
when he pitched at the World Wood Bat Championships in Jupiter, Florida
Jupiter is the northernmost town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. According to the 2020 Census, the town had a population of 61,047 as of April 1, 2020. It is 84 miles north of Miami, and the northernmost community in the Miami met ...
.
College career
He enrolled at Stetson, where he played college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional p ...
for the Stetson Hatters
The Stetson Hatters are composed of 18 teams representing Stetson University in intercollegiate athletics. The Hatters compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the ASUN Conference for most sports, ...
baseball team in the Atlantic Sun Conference
The ASUN Conference, formerly the Atlantic Sun Conference, is a collegiate athletic conference operating mostly in the Southeastern United States. The league participates at the NCAA Division I level, and began sponsoring football at the Div ...
.
As a freshman in 2005, Kluber performed as a relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as inclement weat ...
, compiling a 2–2 win–loss record
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. The statistic is commonly used in standings or rankings to compare teams or individuals. It is defined as wins divided by the total number of matc ...
with a 7.82 earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA) in 25 innings pitched. As a sophomore, he produced a 6–5 win–loss record and a 3.61 ERA in 17 games, including 14 starts. In 2007, Kluber had a 12–2 win–loss record and a 2.05 ERA with 117 strikeouts. That year, he was named the Atlantic Sun Conference's Pitcher of the Year, a second team member of the 2007 Ping! Baseball All-American Team and a member the American Baseball Coaches Association
The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) is the world's largest Amateur baseball in the United States, amateur baseball Manager (baseball), coaching organization. It was founded in 1945 as the American Association of College Baseball Coach ...
All-Atlantic Region Second Team in 2007.
Professional career
Draft and minor leagues
The San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...
selected Kluber in the fourth round of the 2007 MLB draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players and was held on June 7, 2007 and June 8, 2007. The first day session of the draft included the fir ...
. Kluber signed with the Padres, receiving a $200,000 signing bonus.[ Kluber played for the ]Fort Wayne Wizards
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
of the Class A Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...
in 2008. On August 25, 2008, he was named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week.
Kluber played for the Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays their home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond (Pete Lehr Field), which opened in 1994; the park s ...
of the Class A-Advanced
High-A (officially Class High-A, formerly known as Class A-Advanced, and sometimes abbreviated "A+" in writing) is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and abov ...
California League in 2009. On June 1, 2009, he was named the California League Pitcher of the Week. He received a promotion to the San Antonio Missions of the Class AA
Double-A (officially Class AA) is the second-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946, below only Triple-A. There are currently 30 teams classified at the Double-A level, one for each team in Major League ...
Texas League
The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...
in 2009, finishing the year with an 11–13 win–loss record and a 4.55 ERA. On July 26, 2010, Kluber was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week. He pitched to a 6–6 win–loss record with a 3.45 ERA with the Missions, while leading the Texas League in strikeouts.[
The Padres traded Kluber to the ]Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...
on July 31, 2010, in a three-team trade also involving the St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
. Cleveland sent Jake Westbrook
Jacob Cauthen Westbrook (born September 29, 1977) is an American former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was known as a sinker ball pitcher and hit a grand slam as a batter.Harris, J. GeralJake Westbrook: sinkerball pitc ...
to the Cardinals and Ryan Ludwick
Ryan Andrew Ludwick (born July 13, 1978) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, and ...
to the Padres. The Padres sent Nick Greenwood to the Cardinals, and the Indians paid $2.7 million of Westbrook's remaining salary. 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. The Indians assigned Kluber to the Akron Aeros
The Akron RubberDucks are a Minor League Baseball team based in Akron, Ohio. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 7,630 ...
of the Class AA Eastern League. After the 2010 season, he took part in the Indians' Winter Development Program. He was added to the Indians' 40-man roster
A Major League Baseball roster is a list of players who are allowed, by league agreement, to play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team. Each MLB team maintains two rosters: an active roster of players eligible to participate in an MLB game, an ...
after the season.
Kluber played for the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA
Triple-A (officially Class AAA) has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL). ...
International League in 2011, pitching to a 7–11 win–loss record and a 5.56 ERA.[
]
Cleveland Indians (2011–2019)
The Indians 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 coach Ruben Niebla, Kluber first threw his two-seam fastball. Kluber was brought up from Columbus in August 2012 to replace starting pitcher Josh Tomlin
Joshua Aubry Tomlin (born October 19, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians and Atlanta Braves. Tomlin was drafted by the Indians in the 1 ...
in the Indians' rotation. Tomlin was moved to the bullpen.
Kluber began the 2013 season with Columbus, but received a promotion when Brett Myers
Brett Allen Myers (born August 17, 1980) is an American singer and former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians. Born and r ...
suffered an elbow injury.[ On June 16, 2013, Kluber threw eight shutout innings in a 2–0 victory over the ]Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
. He co-won the American League Player of the Week Award for the week ending June 16, 2013, sharing the honor with teammate Jason Kipnis
Jason Michael Kipnis (born April 3, 1987; nicknamed "Kip") is an American professional baseball second baseman who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs. He attended Glenbrook N ...
. On September 22, 2013, Kluber became the first pitcher to strike out 14 batters in consecutive starts since Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "The Big Unit", is an American photographer and former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle M ...
in 2004. He finished the season with an 11–5 record and a 3.85 ERA.[
]
2014 season: Cy Young Award
Kluber was named the American League Player of the Week on September 21, 2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
, and the Pitcher of the Month
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the Pitcher of the Month Award is given monthly during the regular season to two outstanding pitchers, one each in the National League (NL) and American League (AL). The NL began awarding the honor in , and the A ...
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. He finished the 2014 season with an 18–9 win–loss record and a 2.44 ERA. His 18 wins were tied with Max Scherzer
Maxwell Martin Scherzer (born July 27, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and L ...
and Jered Weaver
Jered David Weaver (born October 4, 1982) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels and San Diego Padres. Weaver was drafted in the first round (12th overal ...
for the most in the American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
(AL), and his ERA was the third-best in the league. Additionally, Kluber led the AL in fielding-independent pitching. He also struck out 269 batters in innings, good for second-best in the major leagues behind David Price's 271.
Though the Indians missed the playoffs, the 2014 season culminated with Kluber – in just his second full season – winning the AL Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL). The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Ha ...
, beating Félix Hernández
Félix Abraham Hernández García (born April 8, 1986), nicknamed "King Félix", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners from 2005 through 2019.
On August 15, 2 ...
in a close vote. Kluber earned 17 of 30 first-place votes, with Hernandez getting the remaining 13. Kluber became the fourth Indians player to win the award, following Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Jackson Perry (September 15, 1938 – December 1, 2022) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed pitcher for eight different teams from 1962 to 1983. During a 22-year baseb ...
, CC Sabathia
Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr. (born July 21, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the New York Yankees. He also played for the Cleveland Indians and Milwauk ...
, and Cliff Lee
Clifton Phifer Lee (born August 30, 1978) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher who played for 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Between 2002 and 2014 he played for four teams, most notably the Philadelphia Philli ...
. He also became the lowest-drafted player (134th overall) since Bret Saberhagen in 1989 (480th) to win an AL Cy Young Award.
2015 season
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." On May 13, 2015, Kluber struck out a career-high 18 batters over eight shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
, earning his first win of the 2015 season. Kluber tied Bob Feller's 77-year franchise record for strikeouts in one game, Feller having done so on October 2, 1938. 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.
2016 season
Kluber was named a member of the 2016 American League All-Star team on July 7, 2016, his first selection, as a replacement for an injured Marco Estrada. Kluber was the winning pitcher in the All-Star Game. 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 the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
in Game 2 of the American League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series (ALDS) determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring e ...
(ALDS) and the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). In Game 1 of the World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
against the Chicago Cubs, Kluber struck out nine batters in six-plus shutout innings. He earned the win in both Games 1 and 4, and started Game 7.[ 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.
On November 7, Kluber was announced by the BBWAA as a finalist for the 2016 American League Cy Young Award, along with ]Justin Verlander
Justin Brooks Verlander ( ; born February 20, 1983) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros. From Manakin-Sabot, ...
and Rick Porcello
Frederick Alfred Porcello III (born December 27, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
Selected by the Tigers in the 2007 MLB ...
. With 98 points, Kluber finished third in the voting that was announced on November 16, behind Porcello (137) and Verlander (132). He was, however, selected as the AL ''Sporting News'' Starting Pitcher of the Year.
2017 season: 2nd Cy Young Award
On May 3, 2017
File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...
, 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 in innings. Upon returning from injury, Kluber's performances improved significantly. 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. He was selected to the American League team in the 2017 All-Star Game, but chose not to play. On August 3, 2017, Kluber struck out 11 batters and gave up three hits in a 5–1 complete game win against the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
, making him the fourth pitcher ever to get eight or more strikeouts in 12 consecutive starts. The preceding three were Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed "the Ryan Express", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanning four decades, Ryan ...
, Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez (born October 25, 1971) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to , for five teams—most notably the Boston Red Sox from to .
At the time o ...
and Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "The Big Unit", is an American photographer and former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2009) for six teams, primarily the Seattle M ...
. 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.
Kluber hurled his third shutout of the season with 12 strikeouts on September 12, 2017, versus the Detroit Tigers, giving the Indians their 20th consecutive win. That tied the 2002 Oakland Athletics for the American League record. Kluber scattered five hits while allowing no walks and struck out eight. He won another AL Player of the Week Award for September 17 after becoming the third Indians pitcher with multiple 250-strikeout seasons. In 22 starts from June 1 through the penultimate, his ERA was 1.62. 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. The club won an AL-best 102 games.
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), 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). His ERA was the lowest for an Indians pitcher to qualify for the ERA title since Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Jackson Perry (September 15, 1938 – December 1, 2022) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed pitcher for eight different teams from 1962 to 1983. During a 22-year baseb ...
in 1972
Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using mean solar tim ...
(1.92).[
Cleveland faced New York in the ALDS, and Kluber started two of the games. He allowed nine runs and four home runs in innings as New York defeated Cleveland in five games. Speculation arose that he had reinjured his back, but Kluber denied such assertions.
End of season awards for Kluber included his second Cy Young Award and selection as a starting pitcher on ''Baseball Americas All-MLB Team.]
2018 season: 20 game winner
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 the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and ...
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 the American League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series (ALDS) determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring e ...
but was the losing pitcher after giving up three home runs in 4 innings against the Houston Astros.
2019 season: Long injury layoff
On May 1, 2019, Kluber fractured his right arm after being hit by a line drive during a game against the Miami Marlins. 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. On August 7, 2019, Kluber pitched for the Columbus Clippers in his first rehab start, conceding two runs in three innings. Continuing his recovery process, he pitched four innings for the Akron RubberDucks
The Akron RubberDucks are a Minor League Baseball team based in Akron, Ohio. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 7,630 ...
on August 13, 2019. However, abdominal tightness halted his third rehab start on August 18, 2019. Kluber had thrown 20 pitches in one inning for Columbus before exiting. 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 million club option on Kluber for the 2020 season.
Texas Rangers (2020)
On December 15, 2019, Cleveland traded Kluber and cash considerations to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Delino DeShields Jr.
Delino Diaab DeShields (born August 16, 1992) is an American professional baseball center fielder who is a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers from 2015 through 2019, the Cleveland Indians in 2020, and t ...
and Emmanuel Clase
Emmanuel Clase (; born March 18, 1998) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB).
He signed with the San Diego Padres as an international free agent in 2015. He made his MLB debut in ...
. On July 26, 2020, Kluber made his Rangers debut but lasted just 1 inning after experiencing shoulder tightness. He was subsequently diagnosed with a torn teres major muscle
The teres major muscle is a muscle of the upper limb. It attaches to the scapula and the humerus and is one of the seven scapulohumeral muscles. It is a thick but somewhat flattened muscle.
The teres major muscle (from Latin ''teres'', meanin ...
, sending him to the Rangers' injured list.
New York Yankees (2021)
On January 27, 2021, Kluber signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...
. He earned his first win for the Yankees on April 27, 2021, against the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
. He earned his 100th career win on May 2, pitching eight scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers.
On May 19, 2021, Kluber pitched the 12th no-hitter in Yankees history against his team the previous season, the Texas Rangers. He threw 71 of 101 pitches for strikes and struck out nine batters in a 2–0 win, with a third-inning walk to Charlie Culberson
Charles Edward Culberson (born April 10, 1989) is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. The San Francisco Giants drafted Culberson in the first round in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. He previously played in Majo ...
being the only blemish in an otherwise perfect game
Perfect game may refer to:
Sports
* Perfect game (baseball), a complete-game win by a pitcher allowing no baserunners
* Perfect game (bowling), a 300 game, 12 consecutive strikes in the same game
* Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, New York ...
. It was the Yankees' first no-hitter since David Cone's perfect game
On Sunday, July 18, 1999, David Cone of the New York Yankees pitched the 16th perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB) history and the third in team history, and the first no-hit game in regular season interleague play. Cone pitched it against ...
in 1999. Moreover, the no-hitter occurred one day after another no-hitter had been thrown by Spencer Turnbull
Spencer Ketcham Turnbull (born September 18, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2018. On May 18, 2021, Turnbull threw a no-hitter against the Seattle ...
of the Detroit Tigers, and was the sixth no-hitter overall of the 2021 MLB season. The homestanding Rangers gave out promotional bobblehead
A bobblehead, also known by common silly nicknames such as nodder, wobbler, or wacky wobbler, is a type of small collectible action figure. Its head is often oversized compared to its body. Instead of a solid connection, its head is connected t ...
s 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. On May 25, Kluber exited a game against the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...
after experiencing a shoulder injury. An MRI revealed that he had suffered a strain to the subscapularis muscle
The subscapularis is a large triangular muscle which fills the subscapular fossa and inserts into the lesser tubercle of the humerus and the front of the capsule of the shoulder-joint.
Structure
It arises from its medial two-thirds and
So ...
of his right shoulder, and was expected to miss two months of the 2021 season. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 5. He made his return against Los Angeles Angels on August 30, 2021. In 16 games, Kluber was 5–3 with a 3.83 ERA and 82 strikeouts. Following the season, he became a free agent.
Tampa Bay Rays (2022)
On December 1, 2021, Kluber signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...
, with $8 million guaranteed salary and $5 million in achievable incentives.
In 2022 he was 10-10 with a 4.34 ERA, and his 3.0% walk percentage was the lowest in MLB among qualified pitchers.
Awards and achievements
Pitching style
Kluber throws five pitches: a four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the hardest (i.e., fastest) ball thrown by a pitcher. It is c ...
, a sinker with a two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and softball. It is a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball and can also include late-breaking action caused by varying the pressure of the index and middle fingers on t ...
grip, a cutter, a breaking ball
In baseball, a breaking ball is a pitch that does not travel straight as it approaches the batter; it will have sideways or downward motion on it, sometimes both (see slider). A breaking ball is not a specific pitch by that name, but is any ...
, and a changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball and fastpitch softball.
The changeup is a staple off-speed pitch often used in a pitcher's arsenal, usually thrown to look like a fastball but arriving much more slowly to the plate. Its reduced speed ...
. His most dominant pitches are his two-seam sinker, which he first learned in 2011 as a member of the Columbus Clippers, and his breaking ball, which variously resembles a slider
Slider or Sliders may refer to:
Arts
* K.K. Slider, a fictional character within the ''Animal Crossing'' franchise
* '' The Slider'', a 1972 album by T. Rex
* ''Sliders'' (TV series), an American science fiction and fantasy television series
* ...
and a curveball.
Kluber is well known for his stoicism while on the mound. His listed height is .
Personal life
Kluber and his wife, Amanda, have three children. They reside in her hometown of Winchester, Massachusetts
Winchester is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, located 8.2 miles (13.2 km) north of downtown Boston as part of the Greater Boston metropolitan area. It is also one of the wealthiest municipalities in Massachusetts. The population ...
.
In November 2014, Kluber was inducted into the Stetson Athletics Hall of Fame, and into the Atlantic Sun Conference Hall of Fame the following year.
See also
* Cleveland Guardians award winners and league leaders This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball.
Awards
Most Valuable Player
*George Burns (first baseman), George Burns (1926)
*Lou Boudreau (1948)
*Al Rosen (1953)
Cy Young
*Gaylord Pe ...
* List of Cleveland Guardians Opening Day starting pitchers
The Cleveland Guardians are a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise based in Cleveland, Ohio; until 2021, they were known as the Cleveland Indians. They play in the American League Central division. The first game of the new baseball season is p ...
* List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
* List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders
The following is a list of annual leaders in shutouts in Major League Baseball (MLB). A shutout occurs when a single pitcher throws a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a single run.
Walter Johnson holds the career shut ...
* List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders
* List of Major League Baseball career WHIP leaders
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. WHIP reflects a pitcher's propensity for allowing batters to reach base, there ...
* List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
* List of Major League Baseball single-game strikeout leaders
* List of New York Yankees no-hitters
The New York Yankees are a Major League Baseball franchise based in the New York City borough of The Bronx. Also known in their early years as the "Baltimore Orioles" (1901–02) and the "New York Highlanders" (1903–1912), the Yankees have h ...
* List of World Series starting pitchers
The following is a chronological list of the starting pitchers for each World Series game contested in Major League Baseball.
Each pitcher's win–loss record for World Series starts, cumulative through the game in question, is listed when the s ...
* List of people from Birmingham, Alabama
This is a list of individuals who are natives of, or are notable in association with, the city of Birmingham, Alabama.
Academia
* Monnie T. Cheves, Samford University professor; member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1952 to 1960; ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kluber, Corey
1986 births
Living people
Cy Young Award winners
American League All-Stars
American League ERA champions
American League wins champions
People from Coppell, Texas
Baseball players from Birmingham, Alabama
American people of Austrian descent
Cleveland Indians players
Texas Rangers players
New York Yankees players
Tampa Bay Rays players
Stetson Hatters baseball players
Eugene Emeralds players
Lake Elsinore Storm players
Fort Wayne Wizards players
San Antonio Missions players
Akron Aeros players
Columbus Clippers players