Corey Knebel
A flame-throwing American reliever whose high-octane arm and signature slider made him an All-Star closer before battling through significant injuries.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American baseball player·Birthday: November 26·Millennials
Biography
Corey Knebel's baseball journey is a testament to the volatile life of a relief pitcher, defined by electric highs and challenging setbacks. Drafted as a supplemental first-round pick, he quickly moved from the Detroit Tigers' system to the Milwaukee Brewers, where he found his home. In 2017, he erupted onto the scene, his high-90s fastball and a devastating, sweeping slider baffling hitters and earning him an All-Star selection while he racked up 39 saves. That season encapsulated his peak: pure dominance from the bullpen. The subsequent years, however, became a grind through injuries, including Tommy John surgery and a hamstring tear that tested his resilience. He contributed to a Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen in 2021, showing flashes of his old self. Knebel's career arc is a classic baseball narrative of a pitcher with undeniable stuff, whose arm both catapulted him to the elite and presented the obstacles he had to continually overcome.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Corey was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Corey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Corey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as a National League All-Star in 2017 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Recorded 39 saves and struck out 126 batters in 76 innings during his All-Star 2017 season.
- Pitched in the postseason for multiple teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Did You Know?
He played college baseball for the University of Texas at Austin, helping them reach the College World Series.
He was originally drafted by the Detroit Tigers as a compensation pick for the loss of free agent Victor Martinez.
He is an avid fisherman and often spends his off-seasons near the water.
“I just want to compete. That's the only thing I've ever wanted to do.”
