Corey Kluber Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1641
ERA	3.439
WHIP	1.13
BB/9	2.018
SO/9	9.461

Full name Corey Scott Kluber
Born 04/10/1986 in Birmingham, AL
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Stetson
Debut 09/01/2011
Drafted in the 4th round (134th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2007 (signed for $200,000).

View Draft Report

As one of former Stetson coach Terry Rooney's final recruits before he left for Notre Dame (he's now at Louisiana State), Kluber has developed into a reliable starter. He had a stress fracture in his throwing arm in high school that required surgery, and he still has a screw in his arm. But he has been resilient and holds his velocity late in outings. He pitches at 90-91 mph, touching 94, and his delivery is clean. The strong-bodied Texan has an intimidating presence on the mound, and he pounds the zone with four pitches. His slider is the better of his two breaking balls, and he features an average changeup. He doesn't have a legitimate put-away pitch and profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter who could be drafted as high as the third round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The Indians, Cardinals and Padres pulled off a three-way deal at the July 31 trade deadline, with Cleveland sending Jake Westbrook to St. Louis and getting Kluber from San Diego in return. He led the Double-A Texas League with 136 strikeouts despite leaving the circuit after the trade. He racks up whiffs more with his deceptive short-arm delivery than with pure stuff. Kluber does have a solid arsenal of pitches, working mainly off his 88-92 mph fastball and average slider. He also flashes an average changeup and throws strikes. He still needs to refine his command, because he's around the strike zone almost too much and is fairly hittable. He'd durable, having made 82 starts and worked 455 innings in his three full pro seasons. Kluber doesn't have high upside, but he has good feel for pitching and could be a back-of-the-rotation starter. He'll open 2011 in the Columbus rotation after finishing last season with two starts there.
After a stress fracture in his throwing arm in high school required surgery and the insertion of a screw that remains in his arm, Kluber developed into a reliable starter for Stetson. The 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference pitcher of the year after going 12-2, 2.05, he signed for $200,000. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he's an intimidating presence on the mound, and Kluber pounds the zone with three pitches. He pitches at 88-92 mph, touching 94 with above-average life, and he holds his velocity late in outings. His slider and changeup are average at times. Though Kluber lacks a legitimate put-away pitch, he reads swings well and understands how to attack batters. He joined fellow 2007 draftees Cory Luebke and Mitch Canham for Lake Elsinore's playoff run. A return engagement to high Class A to open 2008 isn't out of the question, and Kluber could develop into a No. 4 starter in time.

Minor League Top Prospects

The IL's lack of power arms made Kluber stand out in comparison despite his age. The durable 26-year-old shaved nearly two runs off his ERA at Columbus in 2011 (5.56), though he was hit hard in his first extended big league stint following an August promotion. Kluber shows flashes of dominance thanks to a fastball that sits at 92-94 and touches 95. He gets in trouble when his fastball flattens out, which happens more than it should for a pitcher his size. His slider is his best pitch, peaking at 86 and flashing good depth, and his changeup can be a solid offering with some sink and fade. "His changeup was not a pitch he could go to in 2011. It was this year," Sarbaugh said. "The issue for him is fastball command, it all comes down to that. He has to be finer with his fastball because he's shown the ability to get swings and misses with the fastball and slider."

Best Tools List

Rated Best Breaking Pitch in the International League in 2012

Career Transactions

Boston Red Sox sent RHP Corey Kluber on a rehab assignment to Worcester Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox sent RHP Corey Kluber on a rehab assignment to Worcester Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox sent RHP Corey Kluber on a rehab assignment to Worcester Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox sent RHP Corey Kluber on a rehab assignment to Worcester Red Sox.
Boston Red Sox sent RHP Corey Kluber on a rehab assignment to Portland Sea Dogs.
Boston Red Sox sent RHP Corey Kluber on a rehab assignment to Portland Sea Dogs.
Boston Red Sox sent RHP Corey Kluber on a rehab assignment to Portland Sea Dogs.
Boston Red Sox sent RHP Corey Kluber on a rehab assignment to Portland Sea Dogs.
Boston Red Sox placed RHP Corey Kluber on the 15-day injured list. Right shoulder inflammation.
Boston Red Sox activated RHP Corey Kluber from the paternity list.
Boston Red Sox placed RHP Corey Kluber on the paternity list.
Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Corey Kluber, and.