Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45
A second-round pick out of the University of Virginia in 2012, Kline was making steady progress through the Minors and had reached Double-A in 2015, only to suffer an early-season elbow injury for which he received a platelet-rich plasma injection. After his elbow continued to bother him that fall in instructional league, Kline underwent Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2016, as well as a pair arthroscopic surgeries to address lodged tissue in the joint line in his right elbow that kept him off the mound again the following year. Finally healthy in '18, Kline made his return from a 59-month absence with a scoreless outing out of the bullpen at Class A Advanced Frederick on Minor League Opening Day. He only improved from there, earning a promotion to Double-A Bowie in May and then pitching to a 1.80 ERA with 15 saves and a sub-.200 opponent average in the Eastern League. With Kline's career back on track, the Orioles added him to their 40-man roster in November.
Kline's electric fastball-slider pairing is ideal for a late-inning role. He showed the same velocity in 2018 as he did pre-injury, sitting in the mid-90s and bumping 97-98 mph, all while using his 6-foot-3 frame to create a downhill angle to the plate. Kline's slider registers in the mid-80s, flashes plus and is highly effective against right-handed hitters. He'll also mix in the occasional changeup, an average pitch for which he has good feel. Kline has long been a strike-thrower, but he will need to refine his command after his extended layoff.
A starting pitcher before his injuries, Kline now has a bright future as a big league reliever. With his stuff and feel fully back, he enters 2019 on the cusp of the Major Leagues at age 27. Statcast - Pitching Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2019 708 128 12 9.4 89.5 11.7 .300 .526 .360 .385 .439 49.2 18.6 10.4 ALL 708 128 12 9.4 89.5 11.7 .300 .526 .360 .385 .439 49.2 18.6 10.4 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 09/01/2019 Baltimore Orioles recalled RHP Branden Kline from Norfolk Tides. 08/13/2019 Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP Branden Kline to Norfolk Tides. 08/03/2019 Baltimore Orioles recalled Branden Kline from Norfolk Tides. 07/23/2019 Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP Branden Kline to Norfolk Tides. 07/21/2019 Baltimore Orioles recalled Branden Kline from Norfolk Tides. 07/02/2019 Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP Branden Kline to Norfolk Tides. 06/21/2019 Baltimore Orioles recalled Branden Kline from Bowie Baysox. 06/11/2019 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Bowie Baysox from Norfolk Tides. 06/08/2019 Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP Branden Kline to Norfolk Tides. 04/28/2019 Baltimore Orioles recalled Branden Kline from Norfolk Tides. 04/21/2019 Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP Branden Kline to Norfolk Tides. 04/20/2019 Baltimore Orioles recalled Branden Kline from Norfolk Tides. 03/17/2019 Baltimore Orioles optioned RHP Branden Kline to Norfolk Tides. 10/30/2018 Baltimore Orioles selected the contract of Branden Kline from Bowie Baysox. 05/18/2018 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Bowie Baysox from Frederick Keys. 04/05/2018 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Frederick Keys. 03/13/2018 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Baltimore Orioles. 09/20/2017 Bowie Baysox activated RHP Branden Kline from the 7-day disabled list. 04/06/2017 Bowie Baysox placed RHP Branden Kline on the 7-day disabled list. 09/26/2016 Bowie Baysox activated RHP Branden Kline from the 7-day disabled list. 04/07/2016 Bowie Baysox placed RHP Branden Kline on the 7-day disabled list. 09/23/2015 Bowie Baysox activated RHP Branden Kline from the 7-day disabled list. 05/21/2015 Bowie Baysox placed RHP Branden Kline on the 7-day disabled list. 03/29/2015 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Baltimore Orioles. 08/20/2014 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Bowie Baysox from Frederick Keys. 08/14/2014 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Frederick Keys from Aberdeen IronBirds. 08/08/2014 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Frederick Keys. 08/01/2014 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Frederick Keys from Aberdeen IronBirds. 07/26/2014 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Frederick Keys. 03/28/2014 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Frederick Keys from Delmarva Shorebirds. 09/19/2013 Delmarva Shorebirds activated RHP Branden Kline from the 7-day disabled list. 05/23/2013 Delmarva Shorebirds placed RHP Branden Kline on the 7-day disabled list. 03/31/2013 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from Aberdeen IronBirds. 02/27/2013 RHP Branden Kline assigned to Baltimore Orioles. 08/16/2012 Branden Kline assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from GCL Orioles. 07/14/2012 Branden Kline assigned to GCL Orioles. 07/09/2012 Baltimore Orioles signed RHP Branden Kline.
