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Baltimore Orioles: Could Branden Kline contribute in 2019?

By Tim Smart

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 30: A general view during the fourth inning of the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 30: A general view during the fourth inning of the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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On Tuesday afternoon, the Baltimore Orioles added RHP Branden Kline to the 40-man roster. With the Orioles in desperate need of bullpen help heading into 2019, Kline could contribute in the majors next year

Adam Jones officially became a free-agent this week, opening up a spot on the Baltimore Orioles 40-man roster. The Orioles took advantage of the opening to add righty Branden Kline to the 40-man, in part to protect him from selection in the upcoming Rule-5 draft.

A second round draft pick in 2012 out of the University of Virginia, Kline had varied success throughout his first few years in professional ball, showing above average strikeout ability but without the peripherals to back it up.

He split his first full season in 2014 between High-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie, posting a 2.42 K/BB rate and a 4.08 ERA in just over 140 innings.

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Kline got off to a strong start in 2015 with the Baysox, but his season was hampered by an elbow issue. Kline initially opted for platelet-rich plasma treatment over Tommy John surgery but when the treatment plan proved unsuccessful, Kline turned to TJ.

The surgery caused Kline to miss the second half of 2015 and the entirety of the 2016 season. Kline was expected to make a full recovery by the start of 2017, but his elbow wouldn’t cooperate.

Kline needed multiple arthroscopic surgeries to remove scar tissue in his throwing elbow, causing him to miss the full 2017 season as well.

After two and a half years of treatment, surgery and rehab, Kline returned to the mound in 2018, his velocity right back up where it was pre-injury.

Kline sat in the mid-90’s this year, touching 97-98 at times, and proving to be a highly effective arm out of the bullpen in Frederick and Bowie. In 65+ innings between the two clubs, Kline posted a 1.64 ERA with 71 strikeouts to just 18 unintentional walks, and the 9.7 K/9 was easily the highest of Kline’s career.

Kline also did especially well keeping the ball in the yard, something which many Orioles pitchers had problems with in 2018; he allowed just 3 homers the entire season. Kline finished the 2018 season strong and wound up ranked 23rd on the Orioles top-30 prospect list at MLB Pipeline.

The Orioles bullpen projects to be a point of weakness in 2019 and with the expectations so low for next year, it seems unlikely that the Orioles will be willing to go out and spend in free-agency to acquire an effective reliever.

There is currently a long list of candidates who will be vying for a job in the 2019 Baltimore bullpen. Several of them, including Tanner Scott and Cody Carroll will surely get looks before Kline does.

But if Kline pitches well to start the 2019 season, and the Baltimore bullpen looks anything like it did in 2018, the Orioles will be shuttling relievers back and forth between Baltimore and the minors, and Kline could be one of the first in the ‘next group’ to get a chance.

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Much of the Orioles success in 2019 is likely to come from talent already in house. If Branden Kline is finally past his elbow issues, he could certainly be a factor in the Orioles bullpen at some point next year.

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