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Orioles reliever, Frederick native Branden Kline announces retirement: ‘It’s been a fun ride’

Branden Kline, a Frederick native who overcame a series of injuries to reach the majors after the Orioles took him early in the 2012 draft, announced his retirement from baseball Wednesday morning.

Kline, 29, was the Orioles’ second-round pick in 2012 out of the University of Virginia, beginning his career as a right-handed starter. But a broken right fibula cost him much of the 2013 season, and he missed all of 2016 and 2017 because of three elbow surgeries, including Tommy John reconstruction surgery.

Kline returned as an effective reliever, posting a 1.64 ERA between High-A and Double-A and earning 17 saves in 44 outings.