CarL1 Frederick Keys

Frederick Keys Game Notes

Published on April 18, 2014 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


QUICK HITS: Kline makes his fourth start of the season Friday, and is coming off his shortest outing of the season. Over four innings, he allowed four runs on six hits, walked two and struck out one. Despite the final line, the struggles were limited to just one inning. All four runs and four of the six hits came in the fourth, a frame where Kline needed 40 pitches to escape. On the year, he is 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA. He has allowed 16 hits in 15 innings, and opponents are batting .286 against him.

VS CAROLINA (RD1): K line faced Carolina on April 8 (the home opener) and earned a quality start. Over six innings, he scattered two runs on three hits, walked two and struck out 8. The six innings matched a career-high. Despite a strong effort, Kline was tagged with the loss, as Mudcats starter Dylan Baker carried a perfect game through six innings.

WELCOME HOME!: A native of Frederick, Kline becomes the first- ever area pitcher to take the mound for his hometown club. He also becomes the first individual to play for Frederick since 2008, when Brian Valichka played in four games for the Keys. Kline grew up attending games at Harry Grove Stadium, while his grandfather, Donald, still comes to the ballpark regularly.

'BIRD DROPPINGS: Last year at Low-A Delmarva, Kline went 1-2 with a 5.86 ERA, but was limited to only 35.1 innings on account of a right ankle/fibula fracture suffered in May during a conditioning drill. In only seven starts, he allowed 41 hits over 35.1 innings to go along with 14 walks and 32 strikeouts. Opponents hit .289 against him. Opening Day marks Kline's first regular season start since May 17, 2013, when he allowed two runs over 5.2 innings against Hickory. That outing resulted in a no-decision.

ARMS RACE: Coming into this season, Kline ranks as the No. 20 overall prospect in the Orioles system according to Baseball America. He is the second- highest rated pitching prospect on the Keys, trailing only Parker Bridwell, who is Baltimore's No. 19 prospect. Reliever Mychal Givens (No. 23) is the other Top 30 pitching prospect on the Keys roster.

TALES OF THE FALL LEAGUE:.Although his regular season ended last May, Kline was able to start running again in mid-August. By the fall, he was pitching in the Arizona Fall League, an elite training ground for some of professional baseball's top prospects. Joined by former Keys Tim Berry and Eduardo Rodriguez, Kline struggled against top-shelf competition. Over 10 games, he went 1-1 with a 10.54 ERA (16 R/13.2 IP) and allowed 23 hits.

MORE ON KLINE: A standout pitcher at Thomas Johnson High School, Kline posted a 0.51 ERA his senior year, striking out 79 batters over 41 innings. After clocking in at 95 mph following an April 15 start, scouts started to take notice. That June, he was selected by Boston in the sixth round of the 2009 draft but did not sign. Attending the University of Virginia instead, the righty started his career in the Wahoos bullpen and finished third in career saves, before jumping to the rotation his junior year. There, he went 7-3 with a 3.56 ERA and was named second-team All- ACC. Selected by Baltimore in the second round of the 2012 draft, Kline received a $793,700 bonus -per Baseball America. Kline remains the highest Frederick County player ever drafted.

Check out the Frederick Keys Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from April 18, 2014


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central