Kluber works out kinks against actual opponent
LAKELAND, Fla. — Corey Kluber reemerged from the shadows Tuesday to continue his ramp-up for the regular season.
The Yankees right-hander was missing his signature command, and almost didn’t make it out of the first inning, but battled through to work his pitch count up to 71 while giving up a run in 3 2/3 innings against the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium.
“I just had a hard time today getting comfortable on the mound,” Kluber said after his effort in the 5-5 tie. “I didn’t probably do as good of a job as I would have liked to making that adjustment, figuring out what it is that felt a little bit off. I searched for it a little bit out there, sprayed it around a little bit more than I would have liked to. But ultimately had to work through a couple lengthy innings, minimize damage, kind of made pitches when I needed to for the most part.”
Kluber walked his first three batters of the spring and gave up three hits and one unearned run while striking out four. He needed 30 pitches to get through the first inning, but got out of the jam, stranding four runners on the day.
Most importantly, though, Kluber got through another outing with his health intact. The 34-year-old, who signed a oneyear, $11 million deal this offseason, is coming off throwing just one inning last season, because of a torn muscle in his right shoulder.
“Good to get Klu a good day’s work,” manager Aaron Boone said. “Thought the stuff was good. A little scattered, was a little bit underneath the ball and missing some spots which he normally would hit. But overall was able to execute a lot of pitches, especially to get out of some trouble.”
Kluber has done much of his work this spring behind the scenes, with two of his four “starts” entering Tuesday coming in live batting practice sessions on a back field. He has just one start left before the regular season begins, but feels he is in a good position.
“I feel good,” he said. “I feel like I’ve gone through a normal progression to this point as far as building up. Obviously would have liked to have commanded a little better today. But as far as physically, the progression of pitch count, all that kind of stuff, got the work in we needed to, which was good.”