Baltimore Orioles: Stevie Wilkerson And Branden Kline Remain With Team

Baltimore Orioles RHP Branden Kline and utility man Stevie Wilkerson have cleared waivers and received invitations to spring training.

After being designated for assignment last week, both RHP Branden Kline and utility-man Stevie Wilkerson have cleared waivers and will remain in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

According to Dan Connolly of The Athletic, Wilkerson has accepted his outright to Triple-A and both he and Kline have received invitations to spring training. Pitchers and catchers officially report to Sarasota on February 11th, with position players reported on February 16th.

Kline will have a tall mountain to climb if he wants to make the 26-man roster out of spring training, with a list of about 20 relievers prepared to enter camp and fight for a bullpen spot.

If Kline wants to find a spot in the major leagues and stick, he will need to find success with his fastball. In his 41 innings of work last season, Kline threw his fastball more than 57% of the time, a pitch that averages 96.2 mph and ranks in the 91st percentile. Opponents hit .349 against his fastball with a .698 slugging percentage.

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Kline was DFA’d when the Orioles claimed utility man Pat Valaika off waivers for the second time this offseason. A native of Frederick, Maryland and former University of Virginia standout, Kline’s local ties and ability to overcome multiple injuries in his career endeared him to many Orioles fans, but maybe not as much as Stevie Wilkerson.

Despite posting a 68 wRC+, .219 batting average, .279 on-base percentage, a 30% strikeout rate, and a -1.0 fWAR over his first 135 games in the major leagues, many fans were sad to hear the news of Wilkerson’s removal from the 40-man roster (corresponding move after claiming RHP Travis Lakins off waivers from the Chicago Cubs).

His admirable play in center field last season, with no prior experience at the position, added even more versatility to his game, something the Orioles have been in search of all offseason. He will have the opportunity to earn a spot back on the major league roster as he competes with Valaika, Richard Urena, and non-roster invitees Jose Rondon and Dilson Herrera this spring.

Both Kline and Wilkerson have struggled in the big leagues, but having them available in the minor leagues as depth pieces will be prove to be a good thing in 2020 as the Orioles continue to cycle through players.