Kluber impresses large audience in showcase

January 13th, 2021

Free-agent righty Corey Kluber impressed onlookers at a showcase that was attended by about 25 teams on Wednesday, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

Kluber took the mound at the Cressey Sports Performance facility in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Fellow free agents and Jet Sports Management clients Anthony Swarzak and Steve Cishek also threw for scouts at the facility on Wednesday.

Feinsand’s source said Kluber commanded his pitches well and flashed typical velocity for this point in the offseason.

Traded from Cleveland to the Rangers last offseason, Kluber made just one start with Texas in 2020, exiting his debut after one inning with a torn teres major muscle in his right shoulder.

The right-hander also missed most of 2019 after he fractured his right arm when he was hit by a line drive while pitching against the Marlins.

Now 34, Kluber posted a 2.85 ERA (151 ERA+) with a 10.1 K/9 rate over 1,091 1/3 innings from 2014-18, winning two American League Cy Young Awards and finishing third in the voting twice in that span.