CarL1 Frederick Keys

Frederick Keys Game Notes

Published on May 2, 2014 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


QUICK HITS: Kline equaled his career-high for innings pitched in his last start.

Turning in seven innings against Myrtle Beach on April 24, the right-hander gave up only one unearned run on three hits. He walked two and struck out three.

The seven stanzas equaled his career-high set in his previous start, when he tossed seven innings of one-run baseball at Carolina on April 18. Over his last 14 innings, Kline has allowed only one earned run, to slice his ERA from 4.20 to 2.48.

HIGH COTTON: Kline's recent run of success has cut his ERA to 2.48, good for eighth-best in the Carolina League. Joining him in the top 10 is teammate Matt Taylor, who ranks third in ERA (1.67). Taylor is one of six CL starting pitchers with a sub-2.00 ERA. Tough against lefties and righties, Kline is holding opponents to a collective .225 average.

INNINGS EATER: In five starts, Kline has tossed 29 innings pitched. That mark is third-best in the Carolina League. The Frederick native owns the longest outing by a Frederick pitcher this season (7IP), while he is the first pitcher since Brady Wager to put together back-to-back seven inning outings. Wager accomplished the feat last July 4-10, to earn wins over Lynchburg and Wilmington.

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.

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Carolina League Stories from May 2, 2014


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