Oh man, big news dropped on Friday. Corey Kluber, that pitching maestro with two Cy Young Awards under his belt, decided it was time to hang up his cleats. Yeah, you heard it right. The guy who was the heart and soul of Cleveland’s pitching staff for what felt like forever is stepping away from the mound.
Kluber took to Instagram to break the news. It was all grace and gratitude. “With sincere appreciation, I am announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball, concluding a remarkable 13-year journey,” he penned. He’s not just walking away, though. Kluber’s got plans. Baseball’s still in his blood, and he’s looking to stick around the game, just off the field.
Now, Kluber’s 37. Last season, he kicked things off for the Red Sox. But, it was tough. A shoulder injury cut his season short in June, after a struggle with a 7.04 ERA. Still, the man’s career stats? Impressive. A 116-77 record and a 3.44 ERA over 1,641 2/3 innings. That’s 34.0 WAR, folks. For a guy who played just 10 full seasons, that’s nothing to scoff at.
Let’s rewind a bit. Kluber’s journey to the big leagues wasn’t a straight shot. Drafted by the Padres in the fourth round back in ’07, he found his way to Cleveland in a three-team shuffle in 2010. His MLB debut? A September call-up in 2011. But by 2013, Kluber wasn’t just in the majors; he was here to stay.
From 2014 to 2018, Kluber was on fire. We’re talking a 2.85 ERA and leading the charge in innings and strikeouts. Only Max Scherzer was in the same league during those years. Kluber snagged the Cy Young in 2014 and 2017, and he was right there in the mix in 2015 and 2018 too.
Remember 2016? Kluber was a beast in the World Series, making three starts, two on just short rest. And who could forget that 18-strikeout game in 2015? That’s still a record for an AL pitcher since Roger Clemens did the same in ’98. Oh, and the no-hitter with the Yankees in 2021? Cherry on top.
Sure, his career might not scream “Hall of Fame” to everyone. But Kluber? He’s definitely one of the standout pitchers of his era. In five years, we’ll see his name on the Hall of Fame ballot. And who knows? Maybe there’s a surprise in store.
So, here’s to Kluber. A pitcher who brought his A-game, battled through the tough times, and left a mark on the game we all love. Baseball’s gonna miss him, but something tells me we haven’t seen the last of Corey Kluber. Not by a long shot.
