Dan Klein

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #10 prospect in 2012
  A standout quarterback in high school who became the closer for UCLA's College World Series runner-up team in 2010, Klein was on the fast track and reached Double-A by the middle of his first full season, but he didn't pitch after May 1 and had shoulder surgery in August. Dr. Lewis Yocum repaired a small tear in his labrum, and loosened his shoulder capsule from a previous operation that knocked Klein out for the 2009 season. When healthy, Klein throws his fastball at 91-93 mph with good life. His solid changeup is the finest among Orioles farmhands, and his curveball ranks as one of the system's best as well. He also throws a slider. His easy delivery allows him to command his pitches and should lend itself to durability. Klein has enough stuff to start, but Baltimore already had shelved a plan to have him work as a starter before he had his second shoulder operation in three years. Klein is already 23, but the good news is that his recent surgery went well and the Orioles think he'll actually come back stronger because he'll have better range of motion in his arm. He's expected to return to the mound in June, and if he's healthy he won't spend much more time in the minors.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #5 prospect in 2011
  The Orioles took Klein, who was also a standout quarterback in high school in southern California, in the 24th round of the 2007 draft. He also had football scholarship options, but he opted to attend UCLA to play baseball instead. He missed the 2009 season after shoulder surgery but returned to be the closer for the Bruins' College World Series runners-up last spring. He signed for a slightly over-slot $499,900 as a third-round pick. Though Klein worked as a closer at UCLA and in his pro debut, Baltimore likes his big, strong frame and ability to throw four pitches for strikes, so they will try to develop him as a starter. He isn't overpowering but has an easy delivery and consistently throws his fastball at 91-93 mph with good life. His changeup is his second-best pitch, and it and his curveball already rate as the best in the system. He also uses a slider as another breaking pitch option. Klein throws strikes and commands his pitches well within the strike zone. Because of Klein's limited college workload, the Orioles will use him carefully in 2011. He's advanced enough to handle a jump to high Class A. His ceiling is as a No. 3 starter, and it also could be tempting to move him quickly to the big leagues as a set-up man.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: A standout quarterback in high school who became the closer for UCLA's College World Series runner-up team in 2010, Klein was on the fast track. He reached Double-A by the middle of his first full season, but he didn't pitch after May 1 and had shoulder surgery in August. Dr. Lewis Yocum repaired a small tear in his labrum and loosened his shoulder capsule from a previous operation that knocked Klein out for the 2009 season. Scouting Report: When healthy, Klein throws his fastball at 91-93 mph with good life. His solid changeup is the finest among Orioles farmhands, and his curveball ranks as one of the system's best as well. He also throws a slider. His easy delivery allows him to command his pitches and theoretically should lend itself to durability. Klein has enough stuff to start, but Baltimore already had shelved a plan to have him work as a starter before he had his second shoulder operation in three years. The Future: Klein is already 23, but the good news is that his recent surgery went well and the Orioles think he'll actually come back stronger because he'll have better range of motion in his arm. He's expected to return to the mound in June, and if he's healthy he won't spend much more time in the minors.