Corey Kluber: A Leader on and off the Field

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber is preparing to begin the season in a new jersey. He signed a one-year, multimillion-dollar contract with Boston Thursday, January 12, 2023. Offering years of experience and leadership on and off the field, Kluber continues to remain in the conversation as a top pitcher, alongside Chris Sale and James Paxon, as Boston's Opening Day approaches.

Before the first regular season pitch, Red Sox players headed south for six weeks of training in Fort Myers, Florida. Kluber and his teammates began spring training on Friday, February 24, against Northeastern University. Kluber has shown dominance despite being “over the hill,” and his squad enjoyed a 14-game win streak until a mid-March loss to the Blue Jays.

Kluber was born, raised, and completed higher education in the South. A Texas native and college kid in the Sunshine State, he now resides in Massachusetts with his wife Amanda and three children. After nine years in Cleveland, the college sweethearts moved back to Amanda’s hometown of Winchester, just 50 miles from Polar Park.

His most notable years were from 2014 to 2018, when he collected three Most Valuable Player Awards and competed on two All-Star teams, in addition to being named best pitcher in his league twice. Kluber’s been a Cleveland Indian, Texas Ranger, New York Yankee, Tampa Bay Ray, and now a Boston Red Sock. Before bringing his talents to the major leagues, he was a powerhouse for the Atlantic Sun Conference. In 2007, he was the conference’s pitcher of the year and is honored in the Stetson University Hall of Fame. In Kluber’s professional career, he battled a few injuries, including a broken arm in 2019 and a shoulder injury in 2021.

But on the bright side, Worcester Red Sox fans got to see Kluber pitch when he made a rehab appearance at Polar Park on August 17, 2021, as a member of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

Kluber is respected within Major League Baseball, by teammates, coaches, and fans for being a top leader in the clubhouse. Sale talked highly of Kluber on the field and in the community in a NESN interview on February 16.

“I mean talk about a model of consistency, a guy that you pick his brain, his baseball IQ [is] through the roof,” Sale said. “His resume speaks for itself and just his demeanor, how he carries himself, his character, all of those things are going to do very well for him not only on this team but in Boston.”

In addition to talent on the mound, the southern native brings community outreach efforts to the Boston area. The recent addition to the Red Sox pitching rotation uses his platform to help families through the Kluber Family Foundation, whose mission is to bring positive change to children facing various illnesses and their families.

“Curveball for a Cause” was the family's first event. They hosted a cocktail reception with Cleveland players and auctions back in 2017. In 2020, the Foundation held a virtual event, "Curveball for a Cause Celebrity Gala." Along with dinner and wine, participants got a signed baseball and a picture.

Off the field, Kluber works with his family to support their community. Kluber’s Kids and Kluber’s Korner are organizations that branch off the Foundation’s previous success. Kluber’s Kids gives children a rare opportunity to see the ins and outs of an MLB player's life. Kluber and his wife take a child from their local hospital to participate in a day of training, shopping, and eating at the ballpark.

Kluber’s Korner aims to support teens and their families through technology. Kluber and his family give students resources like iPads to help further their education. According to the organization’s website, beyond helping youth financially and providing them with experiences, the Klubers' promote good health and well-being.

Catch Kluber in the Red Sox' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park March 30 for a 2:10 p.m. first pitch.