Corey Kluber’s Emergence Big Key for Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians are on the verge of securing a wild-card berth, which would be their first playoff appearance since 2007. The Indians have depended in no small part on some unexpected contributions from their starting rotation. Scott Kazmir, who spent 2012 pitching for the Sugarland Skeeters and Gigantes de Carolina has regained his fastball velocity and returned to his 2005-08 form. Zach McAllister has been solid, and flamethrowing Danny Salazar has returned from Tommy John surgery and been strong since his callup.

The most significant of these contributions has come from Corey Kluber, a 27 year-old righthander who had thrown less than 70 major league innings before 2013. Kluber, who was selected in the 4th round by the San Diego Padres in 2007, was acquired by the Indians in 2010 as part of a three-team trade that featured Jake Westbrook and Ryan Ludwick.

Kluber showed promise in the minor leagues, but despite a good fastball, solid four-pitch mix and a 23.2% strikeout rate, he did not make any appearances on top prospect lists. He earned twelve starts for the Indians in 2012, but after surrendering 9 homeruns and a 5.14 ERA in 63 innings, he started 2013 in AAA.

After Brett Myers went down with an injury, Kluber was thrust into the starting rotation on March 28. Notwithstanding a DL stint caused by a sprained middle finger, he has thrived in a starting role. His 3.68 ERA is third among Indians starters, and his 3.30 FIP and 3.10 xFIP are second only to Salazar, who has thrown considerably fewer innings.

Kluber has brought his minor league strikeout rates to the majors, and has trimmed his walk rate from 9.1% to a svelte 5.5%. His K-BB rate is 16th among starting pitchers, ahead of notable names such as Justin Verlander and Cole Hamels, and rotation mates Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez.

Combine that with a solid groundball rate, and Kluber’s xFIP- (park adjusted ERA estimator based on strikeouts, walks, and groundballs) is 10th in the MLB, outranking even bona-fide aces Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer and David Price.

Kluber might be pitching over his head in 2013, but with a diverse arsenal that allows him to maintain very small platoon splits, at the least he should be a strong middle-of-the-rotation guy for the Indians in the future.

The Indians have needed every bit of his contributions. It’s not often that a 27 year-old pitcher without the top prospect pedigree comes up from the minors and pitches at the level of an ace. Indians fans and baseball fans alike should appreciate the Emergence of Corey Kluber.