Kelly Wayne Gruber (born February 26, 1962) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman.
[1] Gruber played baseball at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, where his number was later retired.
Over the next three seasons, he split time between MLB and the minor leagues, earning an everyday spot in the Toronto line-up by 1987.
Gruber had his best season in 1990, hitting .274 with 31 home runs, 118 RBIs and 14 stolen bases, winning Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and ending up fourth in MVP balloting that year.
Gruber makes public appearances as a motivational speaker for charitable organizations and holds baseball seminars throughout North America.
On June 16, 2018, he made numerous controversial and offensive remarks at a PitchTalks event in Toronto, some directed at moderator Ashley Docking, prompting his uninviting from the upcoming Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame festivities.