Projectable Arm Has Kline Drawing Interest

Caden Kline LHP / OF / Defiance, OH / 2020

But that is not the case for Caden Kline.

As a 6-3, 180-pound lanky left-handed pitcher, Kline has long understood where his future is in athletics.

“Baseball has always been number one,” Kline said. “I know that’s what I excel at. I’m never going to stop playing football or basketball in high school, but I’m not Division I material.”

That is not the case in baseball, however, with the 40-rated Ohio junior going on visits to Penn State and Toledo in the past week with interest also coming from the likes of Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana, Nebraska, Purdue and Louisville.

“Being a three-sport guy can benefit him from the recruiting standpoint for the guys that see how high his ceiling is,” noted Tom Held, his high school coach at Defiance. “Now for the guys that want him to come in and pitch right away .. this will be tough without the time needed to refine some skills on the mound.” 

Kline, who was judged to have one of the Most Projectable Arms with one of the Best Breaking Balls at the PBR ACME/Legion Summer Showcase, credited a throwing program of Held with proving big in his recruitment.

“I instantly hit 85,” the state’s third-ranked unsigned 2020 left-handed pitcher said. “He has a lot of connections so we put a video together and sent it to colleges.”

The increase in velocity has opened eyes.

“My velo popped up a good 4-5 miles an hour in the last year,” explained Kline. “My arm action is also better, I used to drop down.”

The repertoire has also increased.