Cleveland Guardians fans received some major news on Friday morning.
The best pitcher of the franchise’s brilliant run in the 2010s, Corey Kluber, is calling it a career, and what a career it was.
Only a handful of pitchers in MLB history can win Cy Young awards, and he did it twice.
On both occasions, he did it in a Cleveland uniform.
He had a dreamy peak between 2014 and 2018, with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.
Between those years, he had four top-three Cy Young finishes.
He also pitched for the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Boston Red Sox.
The Guardians, however, were the luckiest of the bunch and enjoyed Kluber’s best years.
The team recognized his career and congratulated him on his retirement on Twitter.
Fans, of course, remembered some of Kluber’s best moments and expressed their gratitude toward one of the best pitchers in their recent history.
We failed him. Cleveland legend. ❤️🤍🥹👏🏽
— DonVega🥂 (@DonVega_) February 9, 2024
Clubot was so solid.
— Jeff Raycher (@Raycher33) February 9, 2024
Thanks for some amazing memories, Klubes!! Enjoy your time off the field…much deserved ❤️💙
— Jill Haley❤⚾️💙 (@gotribe1964) February 9, 2024
2016 Kluber is the GOAT..
— 🌰Buckeyes!🌰 (@GoBucksBB) February 9, 2024
In his heartfelt goodbye letter, Kluber talked about the possibility of passing on the knowledge he acquired over the years to the new generation of major league pitchers.
Some fans took advantage of the opportunity to “invite” Kluber to coach in the Guardians organization.
Put him on the coaching staff
— Mikewach32 (@mikewach32) February 9, 2024
Bring him back home to coach.
— 🤘🏻TheMetalGuyTim🤘🏻 (@TheMetalGuyTim) February 9, 2024
Kluber was so methodical, talented, and had such good command of his arsenal that he could probably make for a solid coach if he can prove he can communicate and make himself clear and understood.
For now, let’s celebrate an immaculate career that included a 3.44 ERA, two Cy Young awards, 116 wins, and 1,725 strikeouts.
He didn’t really break out until he was 27 years old, so the totals might not be there for a strong Hall of Fame case.
However, if voters consider rate stats, accolades, and peak performance, he should have a case at the very least.
NEXT: Former Guardians Ace Announces His Retirement
