Friday morning, two-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time All-Star pitcher Corey Kluber announced his retirement.
Kluber made his retirement announcement on Instagram Friday morning, which comes after he pitched 13 seasons in the MLB for the Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox — producing a 116-77 career record with a 3.44 ERA, and 1,725 strikeouts.
While Kluber did produce a no-hitter during his time with the Yankees in 2021, the peak of his career was spent with the Cleveland Guardians, from 2011-2019. It was here where Kluber earned his two Cy Young Awards (in 2014 and 2017), all three of his All-Star appearances (2016-2018) and recorded 1,461 of his career strikeouts — the last of which is third most in Cleveland franchise history.
While his stellar pitching procured the love of every fanbase he played for, Kluber's stoicism he displayed while on the mound earned him the nickname of 'Klubot'; an adoring reference to his robotic demeanor.
In addition to his Instagram post, Kluber also made a retirement statement Friday morning, which was posted on X by Ken Rosenthal.
Corey Kluber retirement statement. Fantastic career. pic.twitter.com/6g3zoXksWg
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 9, 2024
In the post, Kluber wrote, "Each chapter was filled with priceless experiences, phenomenal teammates, and the backing of devoted fans, whose steadfast support always moved me to be the very best I could every time I toed the rubber.
"As I take my leave from the pitcher's mound, my passion for baseball remains unwavering. I eagerly anticipate exploring opportunities to continue contributing to the sport in a different capacity. To all those who have been involved in my baseball odyssey, thank you for crafting an indelible and unforgettable ride. For all of those that will be part of my next chapter in baseball, I look forward to passing on what I have learned to the next generation of MLB players."
So it sounds like Kluber intends to quickly begin his coaching career, now that his playing days are behind him. Given how well-written that retirement announcement was, perhaps he should consider writing a memoir, as well.
So while we've seen the last of Kluber's iconic slider, it seems we can expect him to keep giving back to baseball for years to come.
