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Jun 04, 2012 - Jun 06, 2012     
TBD - ,
Branden Kline
RHP 3B, OF 6-3 185   R/R
FB
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
CB
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle
3/8/12: With a school record-tying 18 saves in 32 relief appearances, Kline was one of the nation’s elite college closers in 2011. But with Virginia needing to rebuild its rotation this season after losing its entire starting staff, including lefthander Danny Hultzen (12-3, 1.37), the second pick in last year’s draft, the Cavaliers were desperately in need of an experienced arm to lead the way, and Kline was handed that responsibility. Through his first three starts this season, he is 2-1, 2.76 with eight walks and 14 strikeouts in 16 innings, and has responded from a shaky, opening-day loss to pitch progressively better in his last two outings. His fastball has been steady at 94-95 mph, and he has complemented it with a nasty low-80s slider with excellent tilt. In his role as a starter, he has added a changeup to his arsenal and thus far has shown a good feel for the pitch. Starting games at the college level isn’t an entirely new experience for the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Kline. As a freshman, he made eight starts in 22 appearances, including two in the NCAA tournament. Kline was also primarily a starter at a Frederick, Md., high school, when he was a sixth-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2009 draft. He unexpectedly passed up an offer to sign at the time and should easily enhance his standing for this year’s draft with his combination of a projectable, athletic frame, superior stuff and success to date at the college level. As a freshman, he went 5-1, 3.62 with three saves, along with 20 walks and 50 strikeouts in 66 innings. In his breakout sophomore campaign, he went 4-1, 1.88 with 22 walks and 56 strikeouts in 43 innings. Unlike many of the top college prospects in this year’s draft, Kline has done little in summer ball to enhance his standing as a prospect. He worked in just three relief appearances in 2011 for Team USA, throwing four scoreless innings, before shutting it down for the summer to return to Virginia and work on his strength training. A summer earlier, he was rocked in three starts in the New England Collegiate League. Because of his limited track record in summer ball and change in roles this spring, scouts have been hesitant to project Kline as a sure-fire first-rounder in this year’s draft. It’s also unclear whether Kline’s role at the professional level will be as a starter or reliever, and that may be determined this spring, when he gets his first extended trial as a starter. But he clearly has the makeup to close at any level, and two dominating pitches needed to excel in the role, though he will need to continue to refine his command of his fastball and slider.




Jul 08, 2008 - Jul 14, 2008   Maryland Select  29
East Cobb Complex - Marietta, GA
Branden Kline
RHP 3B, OF 6-3 185   R/R
FB
91
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
87-89
CB
77
SL
CH
Split
Knuckle




Jul 01, 2008 - Jul 07, 2008   Maryland Select  29
East Cobb Complex - Marietta, GA
Branden Kline
RHP 3B, OF 6-3 185   R/R
FB
90
60
40
OF
IF
1B
C
Pop
Range
85-90
CB
75
SL
CH
84
Split
Knuckle