Branden Kline

Kline attended Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Maryland. In his senior year, in 2009, he experienced an increase in velocity, reaching {{convert|95|mph}}, which drew attention from scouts. He finished his senior year with a 6–1 win–loss record, a 0.51 earned run average (ERA) and 79 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051002022.html|title=Pitching Decision Awaits for Thomas Johnson Ace|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=May 10, 2009|access-date=October 23, 2014}} The Boston Red Sox selected Kline in the sixth round, with the 198th overall selection, of the 2009 MLB draft. He opted not to sign, as he had already committed to attend the University of Virginia on a college baseball scholarship.

With the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team, Kline was used as a relief pitcher in his freshman and sophomore years. In his sophomore year, Kline recorded 18 saves, the third most in college baseball, and tying the Cavaliers' record and setting an Atlantic Coast Conference record. That year, he was also named a first-team All-American. As a junior, Kline had a 7–3 win–loss record, a 3.56 ERA, and 94 strikeouts in {{frac|93|2|3}} innings, with 15 of his 16 appearances as a starting pitcher.

The Baltimore Orioles selected Kline in the second round, with the 65th overall selection, of the 2012 MLB draft.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/mlb-draft-branden-kline-of-virginia-is-taken-by-baltimore-orioles-in-second-round/2012/06/05/gJQAk7X6GV_story.html|title=MLB draft: Branden Kline of Virginia is taken by Baltimore Orioles in second round|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=October 23, 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2012/06/05/orioles-select-virginia-right-hander-branden-kline-with-second-round-pick/|title=Orioles select Virginia right-hander Branden Kline with second-round pick|work=Baltimore Sun|date=June 5, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2014}} He signed with the Orioles, receiving a signing bonus just below $800,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/18924571/kline-signs-contract-with-orioles|title=Branden Kline Agrees to Contract with Orioles|date=June 30, 2012|publisher=NBC 29|access-date=October 23, 2014|archive-date=October 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023194611/http://www.nbc29.com/story/18924571/kline-signs-contract-with-orioles|url-status=dead}} He made his professional debut after signing with the Aberdeen IronBirds of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League, where he compiled a 4.50 ERA in 12 innings.

Kline pitched for the Delmarva Shorebirds of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2013 where he was 1–2 with a 5.86 ERA in seven starts. He began the 2014 season with the Frederick Keys of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League, and was named their Opening Day starting pitcher.{{cite web|url=http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/topic/cct-arc-06938f68-ddb1-577b-a9f2-81b829b23ed8-20140402,0,4250081.story|title=Frederick native Kline 'excited' to get Keys' 1st start|author=Pat Stoetzer Times Staff Writer|date=April 2, 2014|work=carrollcountytimes.com|access-date=October 23, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2014/04/branden-kline-will-start-opening-night-for-frederick-and-other-notes-from-media-day.html|title=Steve Melewski: Branden Kline will start opening night for Frederick, other notes from media day|work=MASNsports|access-date=October 23, 2014}} In August, the Orioles promoted Kline to the Bowie Baysox of the Class AA Eastern League.{{cite web|url=http://www.fredericknewspost.com/locations/local/frederick_county/branden-kline-called-up-to-aa-bowie/article_5fe68264-28a6-11e4-80b2-0017a43b2370.html|title=Branden Kline called up to AA Bowie|work=The Frederick News-Post|date=August 20, 2014 |access-date=October 23, 2014}} In 26 starts between both teams, he was 8–8 with a 4.08 ERA. Kline spent the 2015 season with Bowie.{{cite web|url=http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sports/type/baseball/kline-lands-in-bowie/article_c779ce06-fff9-5010-a11c-ee295156280a.html|title=Kline lands in Bowie|work=The Frederick News-Post|date=April 5, 2015 |access-date=May 1, 2015}} By training with a weighted ball in the offseason, as suggested by teammate Tyler Wilson, Kline's fastball velocity improved from {{convert|90|to|94|mph}} to {{convert|93|to|97|mph}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-118017440|title=Stock Watch: Baltimore Orioles' Branden Kline bringing heavy heat|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 1, 2015}} In eight starts, he pitched to a 3–3 record and a 3.66 ERA.{{cite web |url=https://www.milb.com/player/colten-brewer-605155 |title=Braden Kline Stats, Highlights, Bio |website=Minor League Baseball |access-date=June 12, 2018}}

In October 2015, Kline underwent Tommy John surgery. He missed the 2016 season, and had a follow-up surgery in March 2017,{{cite web|last=Melewski |first=Steve |url=http://www.masnsports.com/steve-melewski/2017/03/minor-league-notes-on-branden-kline-mike-yastrzemski-and-more.html |title=Minor league notes on Branden Kline, Mike Yastrzemski and more - Steve Melewski |publisher=Masnsports.com |date=March 21, 2017 |access-date=April 25, 2018}} forcing him to miss all of that season as well. He returned to Frederick in 2018 as a relief pitcher.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/gcs-273642836 |title=Carolina notes: Kline's comeback on track |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=May 20, 2015 |access-date=April 25, 2018}} The Orioles added him to their 40-man roster after the season.

He opened the 2019 season with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. On April 20, he was recalled to the major league roster for the first time, as the 26th man for a double-header versus the Minnesota Twins.{{cite web|url=http://www.masnsports.com/school-of-roch/2019/04/kline-in-baltimore-as-26th-man-for-doubleheader.html|title=Kline in Baltimore as 26th man for doubleheader|last=Kubatko|first=Roch|website=masnsports.com|publisher=MASN|date=April 20, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2019}} He made his debut that night, recording two innings in relief.

Kline was designated for assignment by the Orioles on January 30, 2020, and outrighted on February 5. On September 4, 2020, Kline was selected back to the major leagues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/09/orioles-alex-cobb-injured-list-outright-mason-williams.html|title = Orioles Place Alex Cobb on Injured List, Outright Mason Williams| date=September 4, 2020 }} Kline pitched to a 1.80 ERA with 7 strikeouts over 3 appearances for the Orioles in 2020.{{cite web| url = https://www.mlb.com/player/branden-kline-571858| title = Branden Kline Stats, Fantasy & News {{!}} MLB.com| website = MLB.com}} He elected free agency on October 29, 2020.

On January 13, 2021, Kline announced his retirement from professional baseball via Instagram.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-branden-kline-retires-20210113-hoiizqiijvhytltd3ppn2iqtwy-story.html|title=Orioles reliever, Frederick native Branden Kline announces retirement at age 29: 'It's been a fun ride'|date=January 13, 2021 }}{{Cite Instagram |user=brandenkline16 |last=Kline |first=Braden |author-link=Branden Kline |postid=CJ_PGs9Mrza |title=Dear Baseball |date=January 13, 2021|access-date=January 13, 2021}}

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Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Frederick, Maryland

Category:Baseball players from Frederick County, Maryland

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Baltimore Orioles players

Category:Virginia Cavaliers baseball players

Category:Aberdeen IronBirds players

Category:Delmarva Shorebirds players

Category:Frederick Keys players

Category:Bowie Baysox players

Category:Norfolk Tides players

Category:Surprise Saguaros players