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Frederick Keys

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Frederick Keys
Minor league affiliations
ClassCollegiate summer (2021–present)
Major league affiliations
TeamUnaffiliated (2021–present)
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
     
BallparkNymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium (1990–present)
Owner(s)
Attain Sports and Entertainment

The Frederick Keys are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. The Keys play in Frederick, Maryland. The team is named for the "Star-Spangled Banner" writer Francis Scott Key. He was born in Frederick County. The Keys were bought from Maryland Baseball Holding, LLC by Attain Sports and Entertainment in January 2022.[1] Home games are played at Harry Grove Stadium.

Before Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues following the 2020 season, the Keys were a Minor League Baseball team that was part of the Baltimore Orioles' organization from 1989 to 2020.[2] On August 1, 2025, the team announced that it would once again serve as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles starting in 2026, replacing the Aberdeen IronBirds.[3]

History

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Early professional baseball in Frederick

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Frederick was one of the first teams in the Blue Ridge League, which existed from 1915 to 1930.[4] 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. The Blue Ridge League closed in 1931.

 Frederick players from these years who became major leaguers:

Minor League Baseball (1989–2020)

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The team was started in 1989 when the Baltimore Orioles decided to move their Class A Carolina League team from Hagerstown, Maryland. The city of Frederick got the owners of the then-Hagerstown Suns to move the team to Frederick. They promised a 4,000-seat stadium to be built for the 1990 season. For the 1989 season, the Keys played at McCurdy Field while waiting for the construction of the new stadium to be completed.[5] The Keys opened by losing both games of a doubleheader (including a seven-inning perfect game by Dennis Burlingame) against the Durham Bulls.[6] Their first win came on April 11, 1989, with a 3–1 victory over the Kinston Indians in the Keys' first-ever home game.[7]

Only two players in Keys history have been transferred directly from Frederick to the Baltimore Orioles (not counting players who played for the Keys during rehab assignments). 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 were not invited to stay in affiliated baseball as part of the 2021 reorganization of Minor League Baseball. They instead joined the newly-formed MLB Draft League.

Playoff history

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Carolina League

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  • 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

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Several Keys alumni have gone on to play in the major leagues. In their first season, the opening day team included several future major leaguers: David Segui, Francisco de la Rosa, Luis Mercedes, Jack Voigt, and Pete Rose Jr.[8]

Other Keys alumni include:

 

References

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  1. ↑ Ruiz, Nathan (January 13, 2022). "Orioles' Double-A team Bowie Baysox, former affiliate Frederick Keys change ownership". The Baltimore Sun.
  2. ↑ Cooper, J. J. (December 9, 2020). "Frederick Becomes Sixth Team To Join MLB Draft League". Baseball America.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ "Blue Ridge League". Boys of the Blue Ridge, 2014. Retrieved 2014-09-06.
  5. ↑ Duggan, Paul (1989-01-12). "The Boys of Summers Past; Cherished Memories Resurface as Baseball Returns to Frederick". The Washington Post. ProQuest 140085073.
  6. ↑ "Perfect Game only Half of Keys' Troubles". The Washington Post. 1989-04-10. pp. C7. ProQuest 140018712.
  7. ↑ Eichelberger, Curtis (1989-04-12). "Keys Find 1st Victory in Home Opener, 3–1". The Washington Post. pp. D4. ProQuest 140024139.
  8. ↑ Goff, Steve (1989-04-07). "Keys, Cannons Ready to Play". The Washington Post. pp. D7. ProQuest 140059670.

Other websites

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