CarL1 Frederick Keys

Keys Announce 2012 Opening Day Roster

Published on April 6, 2012 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


Frederick, MD - The 2011 Carolina League champion Frederick Keys have announced their 2012 opening day roster, featuring five players ranked among Baseball America's top 30 Orioles prospects.

The defending champions also return a significant amount of experience, with 15 out of the 25 players on the opening day roster having suited up for the Keys last season. Pitching-wise, 8 of the 12 pitchers on the roster were in a Keys uniform last year, many of whom were instrumental in guiding the Keys to a team ERA of 3.22 - the best of any full-season team in the minors. Meanwhile, 7 of the 13 position players spent time with the Keys last season.

Highlighting the opening day roster is right-handed pitcher Mike Wright, ranked by Baseball America as the Orioles' 11th-best prospect. Drafted in the third round of last year's draft, Wright posted a 2.79 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with East Carolina University last season.

First basemen Aaron Baker comes in as the top-ranked position player, listed as the 14th-best Orioles prospect. In 12 games with the Keys, Baker went 17-for-44 with two homeruns and three doubles.

Right-handed pitchers Clay Schrader (12th) and Kyle Simon (18th), along with outfielder Trent Mummey (27th), comprise the rest of the players listed among the Orioles' top 30 prospects.

Both Wright and Simon, in addition to being highly ranked inside the organization, also hold high draft pedigrees, being taken in the third and fourth round, respectively, of last year's draft.

Scott Copeland, Nathan Moreau and Rick Zagone - all starting pitchers from a year ago - return to the Keys lineup as do relief pitchers Jason Gurka, Justin Moore, Kenny Moreland, Chris Petrini, and Clay Schrader.

Newcomers include left-handed pitcher Andy Loomis, picked up by the Orioles in last winter's minor league Rule 5 Draft. Loomis previously pitched for the Marlins and Phillies organization, already appearing in 65 games at the Advanced-A level.

David Walters, a relief pitcher from nearby River Hill, gets promoted to play for his hometown team after appearing in 70 games for the Delmarva Shorebirds.

Baker, Michael Flacco, Michael Rooney, and Bobby Stevens return to the infield for the Keys and will be joined by newcomers Ty Kelly, recently ranked as having the best strike-zone discipline in the O's organization, Matt Sweeney and Chris Tremblay. Sweeney, who hails from Gaithersburg, spent the majority of the past two seasons at Double-A Montgomery inside the Tampa Rays organization.

Mummey and Kipp Schutz return to the Keys outfield along with Jeremy Nowak, who spent most of the season in Delmarva, and Ronnie Welty, who played all of 2011 with Double-A Bowie.

Catchers Justin Dalles, Joe Oliveira, and Jason Stifler return to the Keys along with newcomer Scott Thomas, who played with the Road Warriors of the Atlantic League last season.

Opening weekend is finally here! Get your tickets to see the defending champion Frederick Keys by calling our ticket office at 301-815-9939 or by going online at FrederickKeys.com.

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Carolina League Stories from April 6, 2012


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