Stetson Baseball — The Cy Young Factory
Quick answer: Stetson University baseball has produced four Cy Young Awards from two alumni — Corey Kluber (AL Cy Young 2014, 2017) and Jacob deGrom (NL Cy Young 2018, 2019) — plus MLB third baseman Chris Johnson and NL Rookie of the Year honors. No other Florida mid-major has matched the run.
The scoreboard
| Cy Young | Year | Pitcher | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL | 2014 | Corey Kluber (Stetson '07) | Cleveland |
| AL | 2017 | Corey Kluber | Cleveland |
| NL | 2018 | Jacob deGrom (Stetson '10) | New York Mets |
| NL | 2019 | Jacob deGrom | New York Mets |
Stetson University — a private university in DeLand, Florida, with an undergraduate population of ~3,000 — has produced four Cy Young Awards from two pitchers. That is more than half the Florida public universities combined [S85, S91].
Corey Kluber (Stetson 2005–07)
- At Stetson: Three seasons; junior-year dominance — 12–2 record, 2.05 ERA, 117 strikeouts; ASUN Pitcher of the Year; 2nd-team All-America [S91, S93].
- Drafted: 4th round, 2007 by the San Diego Padres.
- MLB career: Cleveland Indians (2011–19) · Rangers · Yankees · Rays · Red Sox.
- Major awards: AL Cy Young 2014, 2017; All-Star; 2× ERA title.
- Honors: Stetson Athletics Hall of Fame (2014); Atlantic Sun Conference Hall of Fame (2015) [S93].
Jacob deGrom (Stetson 2008–10)
- At Stetson: Arrived as a shortstop; converted to pitcher in his junior year; Stetson Athletic Hall of Fame / ASUN Hall of Fame 2021 [S87].
- Drafted: 9th round, 272nd overall, 2010 by the New York Mets.
- MLB career: NY Mets (2014–22) · Texas Rangers (2023– ).
- Major awards: NL Rookie of the Year 2014; NL Cy Young 2018, 2019; 5× All-Star [S85].
Chris Johnson (Stetson 2005–06)
- At Stetson: ASUN Freshman of the Year (2005); 2-year starter; .379 batting average; 19 HR, 118 RBI in 125 games; back-to-back ASUN tournament titles [S94].
- Drafted: 4th round, 2006 by Houston.
- MLB career: Astros (2009–12) · Braves (2012–15) · Diamondbacks · Marlins · Indians. Career .287 BA.
How did this happen at Stetson?
- Coaching continuity. Stetson's pitching coaches built a culture around mechanics and pitch-design fundamentals. The deGrom shortstop-to-pitcher conversion is the clearest example: the staff recognized a velocity arm on an infielder and was willing to re-tool his development mid-career [S85, S87].
- Climate and innings. Florida's long baseball season gives collegiate pitchers ~10 extra starts compared with northern programs — more live-game reps, more pitch refinement, fewer indoor-cage months.
- Mid-major draft math. Stetson isn't recruiting five-star high school pitchers who skip college. It's recruiting projectable arms who need development — and because those arms are undervalued by MLB scouts, they're available. Kluber (4th round) and deGrom (9th round) were late-round bargains because the development was still ahead of them.
Melching Field — where it happened
Melching Field at Conrad Park is Stetson's baseball stadium, just east of the main campus. It is open to the public for Hatter home games (Feb–May) and sits on the stop list for the Stetson campus walking tour. Visitors on a deGrom or Kluber pilgrimage should plan their trip around a home game [S87].
Frequently asked questions
- Which MLB pitchers went to Stetson University?
- Corey Kluber (2× Cy Young) and Jacob deGrom (2× Cy Young) are the two headliners. Chris Johnson also played at Stetson before his MLB career as a third/first baseman. [S91, S85, S94]
- How many Cy Young Awards have Stetson alumni won?
- Four — two by Corey Kluber (AL 2014, 2017) and two by Jacob deGrom (NL 2018, 2019). [S85, S91]
- Did Jacob deGrom and Corey Kluber play at Stetson at the same time?
- No. Kluber was at Stetson 2005–07; deGrom arrived in 2008 and was drafted in 2010. They did not overlap. [S87, S93]
- Where is Stetson University's baseball stadium?
- Melching Field at Conrad Park, on the east edge of the Stetson campus in DeLand, Florida.
- Is Stetson a D1 baseball program?
- Yes — Stetson plays NCAA Division I baseball in the Atlantic Sun Conference.