Frederick Keys

Frederick Keys
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassHigh-A (2026–present)
Previous classesCollegiate summer (2021–2025)
Class A-Advanced (1989–2020)
LeagueSouth Atlantic League (2026–present)
Previous leagues
MLB Draft League (2021–2025)
Carolina League (1989–2020)
Major league affiliations
TeamBaltimore Orioles (2026–present)
Previous teamsUnaffiliated (2021–2025)
Baltimore Orioles (1989–2020)
Minor league titles
League titles (4)
  • 1990
  • 2005
  • 2007
  • 2011
Division titles (5)
  • 1990
  • 2005
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2011
Team data
NameFrederick Keys (1989–present)
ColorsBlack, orange, yellow, white[1]
       
MascotKeyote
BallparkNymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium (1990–present)
Previous parks
McCurdy Field (1989)
Owner/
Operator
Attain Sports and Entertainment
General managerSlater Fuchs[3]
ManagerPreston Wilson[2]
Websitemlbdraftleague.com/frederick

The Frederick Keys are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team located in Frederick, Maryland. They are the High-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles and play in the South Atlantic League. Home games are played at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. Prior to Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues following the 2020 season, the Keys served as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Orioles from 1989 to 2020. After the reorganization, the Keys joined the MLB Draft League.[4] On August 1, 2025, the team announced that it would once again serve as the Class A-Advanced (now called High-A) affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles starting in 2026, replacing the Aberdeen IronBirds, who replaced the Keys in the Draft League.[5]

The team and one of its mascots, Frank Key,[6] are named after lawyer and Frederick County native Francis Scott Key, the author of the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", the first stanza of which, set to the tune of "The Anacreontic Song", became "The Star-Spangled Banner", the American national anthem.

History

Early professional baseball in Frederick

Frederick was one of the founding members of the Blue Ridge League, which existed from 1915 to 1930.[7] The team, which went by the names of Hustlers, Champs and Warriors, won league championships in 1915 and 1921. Games were played at the Frederick Fairgrounds until 1924 when McCurdy Field was built. With the collapse of the Blue Ridge League in 1931, it would be several decades before professional baseball returned to Frederick.

Frederick players from this era who were major leaguers:

Modern team

The team was founded in 1989 when the Baltimore Orioles decided to move their Class A Carolina League affiliate from Hagerstown, Maryland. The city of Frederick convinced the owners of the then-Hagerstown Suns to move the team to Frederick and promised a 4,000-seat stadium to be built for the 1990 season. For the 1989 season, the Keys played at McCurdy Field, a Babe Ruth League stadium, while waiting for the construction of the new stadium to be completed.[8] The Keys opened by losing both ends of a doubleheader (including a seven-inning perfect game by Dennis Burlingame) against the Durham Bulls.[9] Their first win came on April 11, 1989, with a 3–1 victory over the Kinston Indians in the Keys' first-ever home game.[10]

Only two players in Keys history have been transferred directly from Frederick to the Baltimore Orioles (excluding rehab related transfers). On September 3, 1996, Eugene Kingsale's contract was purchased by the Orioles. On June 11, 2005, Jeff Fiorentino's contract was purchased by the Orioles in order to replace the injured Luis Matos.

The 2020 Minor League Baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Keys did not receive an invitation to remain in affiliated baseball as part of the 2021 reorganization of Minor League Baseball, and instead joined the newly-formed MLB Draft League.

The Keys were purchased from Maryland Baseball Holding, LLC by Attain Sports and Entertainment in January 2022.[11]

In August 2025, Attain announced their intent to switch the positions of the Keys and the Aberdeen IronBirds, the High-A affiliate of the Orioles based in Aberdeen, Maryland, which Attain also own. As such, for the 2026 season, the Keys will join the High-A South Atlantic League as affiliates of the Orioles, while the IronBirds will join the MLB Draft League.[5]

Playoff history

Carolina League

  • 1990: Defeated Kinston 3–2 to win championship.
  • 1993: Lost to Wilmington 2–0 in semifinals.
  • 1997: Lost to Lynchburg 2–0 in semifinals.
  • 2000: Lost to Lynchburg 2–0 in semifinals.
  • 2001: Lost to Wilmington 2–0 in semifinals.
  • 2005: Defeated Lynchburg 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Kinston 3–2 to win championship.
  • 2006: Defeated Wilmington 2–1 in semifinals; lost to Kinston 3–0 in finals.
  • 2007: Defeated Wilmington 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Salem 3–1 to win championship.
  • 2010: Lost to Potomac 3–1 in semifinals.
  • 2011: Defeated Potomac 3–2 in semifinals; defeated Kinston 3–1 to win championship.
  • 2017: Lost to Lynchburg 2–1 in semifinals.

Notable former Keys

Several Keys alumni have gone on to play in the major leagues. In their inaugural season, the opening day roster featured several future major leaguers: David Segui, Francisco de la Rosa, Luis Mercedes, Jack Voigt, and Pete Rose Jr.[12]

Other Keys alumni include:

Roster

Frederick Keys roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 43 Cohen Achen
  • 46 Chase Allsup
  • 63 Boston Bateman
  • 11 Ryan Cabarcas
  • 56 Yeiber Cartaya
  • -- Eccel Correa
  • 50 Jacob Cravey
  • 59 Jack Crowder
  • -- Holden deJong
  • 38 Joe Glassey
  • 21 Raimon Gomez
  • 40 Sebastian Gongora
  • 36 Christian Herberholz
  • 32 Chandler Marsh
  • -- Hayden Nierman
  • 61 Juan Rojas
  • -- Grabiel Salazar
  • -- Luis Sánchez
  • -- Teddy Sharkey
  • 48 Tanner Smith
  • 27 Trent Turzenski
  • 30 Ben Vespi
  • 31 Evan Yates

Catchers

  • 23 Yasmil Bucce
  •  9 Ryan Stafford
  • 10 Colin Tuft

Infielders

  • 35 Edwin Amparo
  • -- Leandro Arias
  • 49 Elis Cuevas
  • 37 Anderson De Los Santos
  • 44 Victor Figueroa
  • 12 Maikol Hernández
  • 26 Jose Perez
  • 13 Alfredo Velásquez

Outfielders

Manager

  • -- Collin Woody

Coaches

  • -- Jordie Henry (pitching)
  • -- Teegan Leader (development)
  • -- Jake Ratz (hitting)
  • -- Chase Sebby (fundamentals)

See also

References

  1. ^ "MLB Draft League Official Colors (2021 through present)". TruColor.net. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  2. ^ Baylow, Gus (April 15, 2025). "Keys Announce 2025 Coaching Staff". Frederick Keys. MLB Draft League. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  3. ^ "Frederick Keys name Slater Fuchs new general manager". Frederick News-Post. June 11, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  4. ^ Cooper, J. J. (December 9, 2020). "Frederick Becomes Sixth Team To Join MLB Draft League". Baseball America.
  5. ^ a b Foster, Jason (August 1, 2025). "Frederick Keys to return to Minor League Baseball as Orioles' High-A affiliate in 2026". MLB.com. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  6. ^ "New Mascot Frank Key Joins Keys". Unlocking the Keys. March 30, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "Blue Ridge League". Boys of the Blue Ridge, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
  8. ^ Duggan, Paul (January 12, 1989). "The Boys of Summers Past; Cherished Memories Resurface as Baseball Returns to Frederick". The Washington Post. ProQuest 140085073.
  9. ^ "Perfect Game only Half of Keys' Troubles". The Washington Post. April 10, 1989. pp. C7. ProQuest 140018712.
  10. ^ Eichelberger, Curtis (April 12, 1989). "Keys Find 1st Victory in Home Opener, 3–1". The Washington Post. pp. D4. ProQuest 140024139.
  11. ^ Ruiz, Nathan (January 13, 2022). "Orioles' Double-A team Bowie Baysox, former affiliate Frederick Keys change ownership". The Baltimore Sun.
  12. ^ Goff, Steve (April 7, 1989). "Keys, Cannons Ready to Play". The Washington Post. pp. D7. ProQuest 140059670.
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