Most Interesting People 2015: Corey Kluber

WHY HE'S INTERESTING: In 2014, Kluber enjoyed a breakout season and clinched the American League Cy Young Award — without cracking a smile. When the Cleveland Indians broke the major league record for strikeouts in a season, it was Kluber who threw the pitch. The enigmatic starter put some incredible individual stats in the books as well, finishing the season 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA, 269 strikeouts and three complete games.

Shocked jock: Kluber was stunned to win the Cy Young Award, expecting the honor to go to Felix Hernandez of Seattle. "I don't know whether I'd convinced myself that I wasn't going to win or I hadn't set my expectations too high. More than anything, I was just surprised."

Man vs. machine: Kluber's expressionless face and singular focus on the mound earned him the nickname Klubot. "Somebody told me I looked like I'm not having fun out there. That's not the case. I am having fun and I enjoy playing baseball, and I'm glad that I have the opportunity to do that," he says. "It's just that I'm so focused. I'm in that competitive mode. It looks like I'm a robot out there or whatever."

Dugout antics: When players do TV interviews in the Indians dugout, their brethren pelt them with sunflower seeds. For Kluber's initiation, he was coated in seeds, baby powder and water. Ever stoic, he didn't blink. "We all realize that it's all in good fun. So that makes it more enjoyable to go to work every day when you have that kind of environment, when everybody gets along and we all have a good time with each other."

Party time: After becoming the fourth Indian in history to land pitching's highest honor, Kluber told ESPN that he would probably go home and give his daughters — a 10-month-old and a 2 1/2-year-old — a bath. While he got a reprieve on daddy duty, his real party was just as low-key. "I just went home, hung out with the girls and had a couple friends come over. Not too much."

Green scene: Kluber is an avid golfer, taking to the links between workouts and parenting. "[Golf] is one of those things where you never really have a full handle on it. It's kind of like baseball in that way. Once you think you've got it figured out, it knocks you down and you have to start all over again."

Hat tip: In the offseason, Kluber was inducted into Stetson University Athletics Hall of Fame after going 20-9 in three seasons for the Hatters. But seriously, the Stetson Hatters? "Pretty original." 

Season's greetings: Looking toward next year, Kluber's modus operandi is as stony as his face on the mound. "[The award] is not going to change who I am, what I do or how I go about my business."