When Corey Kluber toes the rubber Monday night in the Cleveland Indians’ season opener at the Texas Rangers, the right-hander will have a modification to his New Balance cleats that will go unseen to the naked eye.
In each of his spikes, Kluber will have a 3D printed plate, becoming the first player to wear such a piece of footwear during a MLB game.
Bryan Gothie, Manager of Cleated Innovation Division at New Balance, explained that over the past few years, the footwear brand has been working on a 3D plate that would be unique to the mechanics of pitching.