CarL1 Frederick Keys

Keys Sweep Orioles Awards

Published on September 15, 2009 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


Frederick, MD - A trio of Frederick Keys in 2009, Brian Matusz, Brandon Waring and Caleb Joseph will be honored in Baltimore, MD during Minor League Appreciation Night Wednesday, September 16th at Camden Yards. The Orioles take on the Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 p.m.

Matusz has earned the Jim Palmer Prize as the organization's Pitcher of the Year. Waring won the Brooks Robinson Award as most outstanding position player in the Orioles system. Joseph has earned the Elrod Hendricks Community Service Award for his work in the community with the Frederick Keys.

The Orioles first round pick in the 2008 draft began his professional career with Frederick as the Keys opening night starter in Salem, April 9th. Matusz would go 4-2 with a 2.16 ERA in eleven starts before earning a promotion to Double-A Bowie June 15th. He finished his tenure with the Keys with 23 consecutive scoreless innings. Matusz would go 7-0 in eight starts in Bowie earning a call-up to the big leagues where he got a win in his major league debut August 4th in Detroit. He made more starts with Frederick than anywhere else in 2009.

Matusz is the tenth player in club history to win the Jim Palmer Prize in a season in which he pitched in Frederick. All but one winner have been future big leaguers. Former Keys winners include Armando Benitez (1993), Rocky Coppinger (1995), Jim Johnson (2005) and Brad Bergesen (2008).

Waring made his organizational debut in Frederick after being acquired in the off-season via a trade with Cincinnati. The Reds seventh round selection in the 2007 draft, Waring hit 26 home runs and led the Carolina League with 90 RBI's en route to being Carolina League Most Valuable Player. He was the first Key to earn that honor in the franchise's 21-year history. Waring's 26 home runs are tied for second most in a season in franchise history and he became the first Key to drive home 90 RBI's since 1996. He was promoted to Double-A Bowie September 1st where he hit a home run and drove home a season-high five RBI's in his Eastern League debut.

As the Brooks Robinson Prize winner, Waring is the seventh Frederick Key to earn the award in a season in which he played for the Keys. Four of the six prior have become big leaguers including David Segui (1989), Nick Markakis (2005) and Matt Wieters (2008).

Joseph had an outstanding season on the field, finishing eighth in the league in batting at .284. The mid and post-season all-star also had a great season off the field. He will be honored for his 30-40 hours in the community in Frederick, MD. These appearances, whether at local camps or schools, all took place in the mornings prior to Keys home games.

This is the first time in Keys history that all three honorees played in Frederick that season. It is the second straight season that both the Jim Palmer Prize winner and the Brooks Robinson Award winner began the year on the Keys roster. In 2008 pitcher Brad Bergesen and catcher Matt Wieters won the award.

Check out the Frederick Keys Statistics

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Carolina League Stories from September 15, 2009


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