Undersized Klueber Overcomes ‘Big Road Bump’ To College

Chris Klueber RHP / 3B / TABOR ACADEMY, MA / 2025

BOURNE, Ma. - A “very stressful” recruiting process has come to an end for Chris Klueber.

“Being an undersized pitcher was a big road bump,” the Tabor Academy senior explained. “I noticed coaches like taller pitchers with projectability and with me I don’t have that. I feel I had to get in the gym and work harder.

“I practiced three to four times a week with my dad to get the edge. Showcases also helped with talking to coaches to see what I needed to improve on and then I went to the field and worked on it.”

The strong work ethic paid off for the recently-turned 18-year-old who is now committed to the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

“I went to a UMass Lowell showcase, did well and they offered me there,” the 5-10 175-pounder reflected.

Adding to the excitement is the opportunity, at this point in time, to attempt being a two-way player.

“They want me mainly for pitching, but they’re going to allow me to hit in the fall and see how I do,” Klueber noted. “I love both and couldn’t decide which I wanted to do. I’m hoping to go in and two-way.”

Klueber also had an offer from Stonehill and had taken a visit to Merrimack before making the decision UMass Lowell was where his college home would be.

“I loved the city,” Klueber said of Lowell. “It’s a big school with 17,000 students and I like bigger schools. I also like the stadium feeling.”

The idea of playing college baseball developed before Klueber attended Tabor Academy.

“Entering freshman year of school at Bourne I began thinking about it,” Klueber said. “It started to become realistic at the end of sophomore summer when I was talking to D-I schools around here. After that I put my foot on the gas and started working harder.

“Gaining weight was big for me,” Klueber continued. “I was 5-9 165 and I started eating a lot and I’m up to 175 now. My miles per hour went up 3-4 on my fastball and my change and curve went up 2-3.”

Tabor Academy coaches Matthew Karis and Kenneth Ackerman along with Team Boston Academy coaches Jared Evans and Jeff Mejia are credited by Klueber with playing major roles in his development and recruitment, and UMass Lowell came away impressed.

“They like my pitching style, how I talk to myself between pitches, and they like how I swing the bat,” Klueber explained. “There’s also my energy on the field and my command on the field.”

That is the type of player UMass Lowell will get according to Klueber.

“I’ll bring a lot of energy to the table along with that mindset to keep getting better,” Klueber said. “Hopefully, it wears off on people and we can go win the America East Conference.”

A major in business and minor in sport management is the plan for Klueber, who still has big goals ahead.

“It was a big sigh of relief to commit,” Klueber noted. “It’s always been a dream to play Division I baseball, but there are a lot more dreams to get to. I want to play in the Cape Cod League and MLB.”

But first there is a matter of going to UMass Lowell, a college located 90 minutes from home.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and having teammates there to help me,” Klueber concluded. “With the pitching coach there I hope to learn new pitches, how to command them and when to throw them.”