CarL1 Frederick Keys

Baltimore Orioles Announce Keys Tentative 2016 Roster

Published on April 3, 2016 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


Frederick, Md. - On Sunday evening, the Baltimore Orioles announced the Frederick Keys tentative break camp roster for the 2016 season. This contingent includes one of minor league baseball's top third base prospects, four of the Orioles top 30 prospects according to Baseball America as well as 14 returning players. Leading this group will be Keith Bodie, who has 18 years of managerial experience and nine division titles on his resume.

Headlining this year's Keys roster is Jomar Reyes. Rated the No. 9 third base prospect in the minor leagues according to MLBPipeline.com, and the No. 4 prospect in the Orioles farm system according to Baseball America, Reyes comes to Frederick after spending last season with the Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds. A midseason South Atlantic League all-star, Reyes hit .278 in 84 games despite missing a month with a thumb injury. One of the game's emerging young stars, Reyes turned 19 years-old on February 20.

Other team members who placed among Baseball America's top 30 Orioles prospects include: Tanner Scott (No. 11), Jonah Heim (No. 15) and Josh Hart (No. 28). Reyes, Scott and Heim were also listed in the publication's "best tools survey." Among position players, Reyes was recognized as the "top power hitter" and owner of the "best infield arm." Heim checked in as the "best defensive catcher" while on the mound, Scott was regarded as having the "best fastball." All four players were also listed among the Orioles top 30 prospects according to MLBPipeline.com.

Armed with a live fastball, Scott split the 2015 regular season between the Short-Season Aberdeen IronBirds and Delmarva, going a combined 4-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 18 games (three starts). Between the two stops, he struck out 60 in 42.1 innings (12.8 SO/9IP). His run of dominance continued with the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, where he registered a 2.00 ERA in eight games and was named to the league's All-Prospect Team.

Sidelined three months due to a left foot injury, Heim jumps to the Carolina League after playing only 45 games last year. Most of that time came with the Shorebirds (43 contests). In the first-half nearly one-third of his hits went for extra-bases. Hart also missed time due to injury in his inaugural season with the Keys, but still finished with 30 stolen bases, the fourth-best mark in the CL during that time and the second-most by an Orioles minor leaguer.

The only Orioles farmhand with more swipes in 2015 was Jay Gonzalez, who brings his speed back to Nymeo Field to open this year. Ending the season with 34 steals, Gonzalez joined Frederick on July 3 after batting .294 over his first 72 games with Delmarva. Tad Gold, T.J. Olesczuk and Jimmy Bosco round out the Keys outfield corps. After arriving in the Carolina League in July, Gold took the circuit by storm, batting .304 in his first 16 games. The Martha's Vineyard native also showcased electrifying defense at times, and was featured on Sportscenter

"Top 10" for a diving catch at Carolina on July 28. Olesczuk made a seven-game cameo with the club in May, before batting .251 over 73 games at Low-A, while Bosco joins the Orioles from the Cardinals organization. He spent all of last season at Advanced-A Palm Beach.

On the infield, Reyes is joined by his former Shorebirds teammates Steve Wilkerson and Cam Kneeland. A midseason SAL all-star selection, Wilkerson finished sixth among Orioles minor leaguers in batting average while splitting time between shortstop and second base. Kneeland also displayed good versatility, playing all four infield positions in his first full affiliated season.

Erick Salcedo makes his Keys debut, after recently being acquired in a trade from the Angels. In 2015, the Venezuelan played at every level from Low-A to Triple-A. Not the only first time Oriole, Aderlin Rodriguez joins Frederick after playing eight previous seasons with the Mets and Mariners organizations. Anthony Caronia rounds out the infield contingent. This will be his third time donning the orange and black.

Behind the plate, Austin Wynns and Wynston Sawyer join Heim. Both have played parts of the last two seasons in the Carolina League. One of the circuit's top defensive catchers from a year ago, Wynns also enjoyed a solid year at the plate, batting .274 in 74 games. That included a .307 mark in the second-half. A catcher by trade, Sawyer was Frederick's primary first baseman in the second-half of 2015, but sported the catching gear occasionally throughout the year.

The three backstops will work with starting pitchers Mitch Horacek, John Means, Matthew Grimes and Chipper Smith, a quartet featuring three lefties and one righty. The CL's reigning strikeout champ, Horacek was a workhorse for the Keys last season, leading all league pitchers with 28 starts, while finishing second in innings pitched (154.1). Called up to Frederick in late-August, Means made four Advanced-A starts after pitching the bulk of the year for Delmarva. There, he threw a no-hitter on July 31 against Charleston. Smith rounds out of the trio of southpaws, coming to Frederick from the Marlins organization. From the right, Grimes prepares for his Advanced-A debut following a full season with the Shorebirds. In 24 starts, he went 10-7 with a 4.14 ERA.

This year's bullpen includes five returners and five newcomers. Familiar faces include Garrett Cortright, Jimmy Yacabonis, Luis Gonzalez, Austin Urban and Ivan Hernandez. A South Atlantic League all-star, Cortright joined the Keys in August. Between the two levels, he turned in a stretch of 36.1 innings without allowing an earned run. Yacabonis made a career-high 43 appearances with the orange and black last season, while Urban proved to be a stable option before suffering a broken hand in late-June. Following a year in the Keys rotation, Gonzalez shifts to the relief corps, while Hernandez returns to Frederick for the first time since 2014, when he pitched two games in relief.

In addition to Scott, Max Schuh, Tanner Chleborad, David Richardson and Michael Zouzalik join the Keys roster. One of Delmarva's most reliable relievers, Schuh registered a 1.79 ERA in 24 games and did not allow an earned run in his last eight appearances. Chleborad jumps to Advanced-A despite spending the bulk of 2015 on the disabled list, while Richardson also missed time due to injury, but fared well in a rehab stint with the GCL Orioles. Following two years of independent baseball, Zouzalik returns to the affiliated ranks. Previously, he pitched for the Rangers, advancing as high as Myrtle Beach in 2013.

Bodie is joined by pitching coach Kennie Steenstra and hitting Coach Erik Pappas. Ramon Sambo rounds out the coaching staff, while Brian Guzman (athletic trainer) and Chris Cecere (strength and conditioning coach) make up the support staff.

The Keys begin their season on Thursday, April 7 when the club visits Myrtle Beach at 7 p.m. Single-game tickets go on sale on Friday, April 8 at 10 a.m, while ticket plans for the 2016 season are already available by calling 301-815-9900. All fans who purchase a ticket plan receive a Manny Machado-Jonathan Schoop double bobblehead presented by JoJos Restaurant and Tap House. The Keys kickoff their season on April 7 at Myrtle Beach, while the home opener takes place one week later, when the Lynchburg Hillcats visit Nymeo Field for a 7:00 p.m first pitch.

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