I was struck by the news last week that reliever Branden Kline was hanging up the cleats at age 29. The once highly-touted right-hander never fully established himself as a major league pitcher after being labeled a top prospect for Baltimore once upon a time.
A Frederick native, Kline’s professional baseball career spanned eight years, starting when the Orioles selected him in the second round of the 2012 draft out of the University of Virginia. He was a minor league starter at first, but underwent injury problems and transitioned to the bullpen for good before making it to the show.