Cleveland Indians’ starting pitcher Corey Kluber kicked off the season in New Balance cleats equipped with 3D printed plates. 

The 2017 Major League Baseball season officially started this week. The professional sport is one of the longest ongoing pastimes in America, starting back in 1876 and continuing on to this very day.

But on Monday, Cleveland Indians’ star pitcher Corey Kluber kicked off his season in a not-so-traditional way. In the team’s first game, the 2014 Cy Young winner took the mound in special cleats produced by the athletic apparel company New Balance.

What makes his footwear so unique is that each spike contains a 3D printed plate. With this, Kluber became the first player to wear 3D printed cleats during an actual MLB game.

Constructing the Perfect Baseball Cleats With 3D Printing

To create this customized footwear, New Balance used a biomechanical data collection process on the Cleveland Indians’ ace. The company observed Kluber’s pitching motion and the force exerted in different areas of his feet.

Two primary areas that New Balance focuses on is the locking in of his heel during his windup and the planting of his front foot. The resulting data led them to 3D print a stud placement on the outside of his right cleat.

This custom component is implemented to prevent his foot from twisting. On the left shoe, a curved “wall” and rotated studs are added to prevent Kluber from slipping.

After gathering the data and talking to Kluber about his personal pitching mechanics, the 3D design was produced at New Balance’s Sports Research lab. The pitcher tested out a few prototypes during spring training until finding the ideal fit. The Indians’ player says he has more stability, traction, and “a better feel for where my body is.”

Will 3D Printing Play A Major Role in Professional Sports?

According to New Balance’s Bryan Gothie, they’ve been working on this 3D printed plate mechanism for a few years. Last fall, they approached Kluber with the idea, discussing how this innovative concept could improve his game.

Gothie explains the benefits that the 3D printed plates offer the star pitcher:

“We really concentrated on getting the spikes aligned in a way that when he lands with that front foot, it’s not going to move at all. Again, that’s consistency and movement for him, knowing that every time he’s going to pitch, he’ll have the same exact experience.”

From the Olympics to UFC fighting, 3D printing technology is increasingly used to protect athletes and enhance performance. But Kluber’s 3D printed cleats are a new feat for professional sports. Seeing how the plates enhance his game, you can surely expect to see more 3D printed footwear in the MLB and beyond.