2011 Indians Top 50 Prospects: #29 Corey Kluber

Corey Kluber – Right-handed Pitcher
Born: 04/10/1986 – Height: 6’4” – Weight: 215 – Bats: Right – Throws: Right

(Photo: Kluber)

History: Kluber was selected in the 4^th round of the 2007 Draft by the San Diego Padres out of Stetson University (FL). The Indians acquired Kluber on July 31, 2010 from the Padres as part of a three team trade that sent right-handed pitcher Jake Westbrook to the St. Louis Cardinals. At the time of the trade he led the Texas League in strikeouts (136), strikeouts per nine innings (9.98 K/9) and was 2nd in innings pitched (122.2IP). The Indians added him to the 40-man roster in the offseason as he was up for roster protection.

Strengths: Kluber is an innings eater who won’t dominate a game with his stuff or overpower hitters, but he knows how to pitch, command the zone, compete, and pitch deep into games. Last year he had a significant jump in the quality of his stuff and his overall standing as a pitcher, showing a solid average fastball that he commands well that jumped up several MPH where he easily pitched at 88-92 MPH and was up to 95 MPH. He throws both a two-seam and four-seam fastball, and he complements them with a slider and changeup. He shows a great feel for his slider, and it is a plus offering that is a true swing and miss pitch at the major league level. He also shows a good feel for his changeup though it is still a work in progress.

Kluber is strong, durable, physical and a great athlete who is a bulldog on the mound. He has all the attributes to be a major league starter and projects to be able to start and haul 200 innings in the major leagues. Even though he lacks dominant stuff he has a lot of success because of his feel for pitching, ability to control the ball, create deception, throw consistent strikes, and repeat his delivery well. He pounds the strike zone with all of his pitches and works well down in the zone. He gets ahead of hitters well and stays on top of them and keeps them uncomfortable by staying aggressive. He also is a very smart pitcher who combined with an excellent work ethic and very good makeup helps him get the most out of his abilities.

Kluber struggled in his first two starts after the trade – likely from trying to live up to expectations after the trade – as he lasted just four innings each outing and was hammered for a total of 19 hits and nine earned runs while walking six and striking out nine batters. After that he was very effective as in five combined starts between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus he went 3-1 with a 1.84 ERA. His increased comfort level and being back in a routine showed with how much more effective he was in his final five outings.

Opportunities: Kluber has had a lot of success over the years by amassing a large amount of strikeouts even though his fastball sits in the low 90s and he doesn’t have a truly devastating secondary pitch. Before he can be seriously considered as a big league option he needs to hone in on and refine his changeup. His fastball-slider combination is definitely his bread and butter combination, but due to the lack of a true third pitch some scouts think he can be more effective pitching out of the bullpen down the road. For him to be considered a true starting option it will be the continued development his changeup as well as more refined fastball command.

Outlook: Kluber had a breakout season last year which put him near the top of the Padres system at the time of the trade to the Indians. Once considered just middle relief depth and maybe a swing starter, he is now considered a legit innings eating workhorse who probably settles in at the back of a big league rotation with some upside still to be a solid middle of the rotation starter. The Indians feel that he can definitely be a starter and will work him into the starting rotation probably by this time next year, if not sooner. He won’t be flashy, but he has the potential to be a solid member of the big league rotation for the next several years. If things go south on the starting front, they can always move him to the bullpen where his stuff may play up in shorter spurts, especially if he cannot improve his changeup. He should open the 2011 season in the starting rotation at Triple-A Columbus.

Year	Age	Team	Lvl	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	SO	AVG	BB/9	K/9	WHIP
2007	21	Eugene	A-	1	1	3.51	10	7	33.1	28	13	1	15	33	.230	4.0	8.9	1.29
2008	22	Lake Elsinore	A+	2	5	6.01	19	16	85.1	93	57	9	34	75	.280	3.6	7.9	1.49
2008	22	Fort Wayne	A	4	3	3.21	10	10	56.0	49	20	8	13	72	.229	2.1	11.6	1.11
2009	23	Lake Elsinore	A+	7	9	4.54	19	19	109.0	110	55	9	36	124	.261	3.0	10.2	1.34
2009	23	San Antonio	AA	2	4	4.60	9	9	45.0	45	23	5	34	35	.266	6.8	7.0	1.76
2010	24	San Antonio	AA	6	6	3.45	22	21	122.2	121	47	7	40	136	.259	2.9	10.0	1.31
2010	24	Akron	AA	2	2	3.76	5	5	26.1	38	11	0	10	21	.345	3.4	7.2	1.82
2010	24	Columbus	AAA	1	1	3.27	2	2	11.0	10	4	1	6	8	.263	4.9	6.5	1.46
		MiLB Totals		25	31	4.24	96	89	488.2	494	230	40	188	504	.264	3.5	9.3	1.40

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