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Branden Kline
Born: 09/29/1991 (Age: 23) |
| Bats: Right |
Throws: Right |
| Height: 6' 3" |
Weight: 210 |
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Build: Athletic build; sturdy shoulders and a chiseled body; maxed frame.
Mechanics: High 3/4 arm slot; long arm action and extension; slight stab; plus arm speed; mechanics are cleaner than last year; better balance; more upright and took bend out of knee; uses arm and upper half more than lower half; clean finish; mild exertion; delivery times 1.39 - 1.44. |
| Tucker Blair |
| 04/17/2015 |
| Bowie Baysox (AA, Orioles) |
| 4/17/15 |
| 55 |
| 2016 |
| No |
| FB |
60 |
89-94 |
95 |
4S: average command; downhill plane; straight offering and can get flat when he overthrows; sits more comfortably in the 90-93 velo band; easy to see out of hand from high release and long arm path; slight tick in velo possible with a move to the pen.
2S: average command; 88-90 velo band; mild armside run with mild boring action; rarely throws the offering. |
| SL |
55 |
82-86 |
87 |
Fringe command; replicates arm speed; sweeping pitch with moderate bite; effective in the 85-86 velo band; spin can become inconsistent and pitch will float in the zone; lacks the deception and bite to be a true bat-missing offering; slight refinements in command and consistency in spin can push pitch to an above-average offering |
| CH |
50 |
82-84 |
85 |
Fringe-average command; replicates arm speed; mild fade with parachute action; comes in firm at the 84-85 velo band; throws CH mostly against LHH; slight refinements with command will push pitch to an average offering. |
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Kline has cleaned the mechanics marginally since last season, dropping some of the unnecessary pre-windup movements. The FB can become hittable due to the high release and ability for the hitter to track the offering the entire way, but the velocity can be premium at times. I don't envision Kline being able to consistently sit at the higher velo bands as a starter due to the amount of exertion and lack of command, but the FB/SL combo has improved since 2014 and gives him a chance to start for now. The likely role is still a reliever profile due to the lack of an out pitch.
Round Drafted: 2nd Round, 2012
Why: Power arm with a chance to stick and develop as a starter. FB/SL combo would work out of the back-end of a bullpen.
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