CarL1 Frederick Keys

Three Keys Named to Carolina League All Star Team

Published on June 8, 2016 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Frederick Keys News Release


Frederick, Md. - The Frederick Keys are excited to announce that three players have been selected as Carolina League midseason all-stars. Matthew Grimes, Aderlin Rodriguez and Jonah Heim will participate in this year's Carolina League-California League All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 21 at 9:30 EDT. The game will take place at the Diamond, the home of the Lake Elsinore Storm.

Grimes, 24, receives his first professional all-star nod after being named the Carolina Player of the Month for May and receiving Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors. This season, the right-hander is 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA in 11 games. Over 66.2 innings, he has allowed 14 runs (eight earned) on 54 hits to go with 12 walks and 46 strikeouts. Opponents are batting only .223 against him.

Currently the owner of a 28-inning scoreless streak, Grimes ranks fifth in the Minor Leagues in ERA and is second in the CL, trailing only Lynchburg's Julian Merryweather (0.92). The Hoschton, GA natives leads all Carolina League pitchers in WHIP (0.99) while he is tied for second in wins, third in innings pitched and fourth in average against. Among starters, Grimes leads the circuit in fewest baserunners per nine innings (8.91) and third in lowest walk per nine inning ratio (1.62). He was originally selected by the Orioles in the 18th round of the 2014 draft out of Georgia Tech.

Rodriguez, 24, earns an All-Star nod during his first Carolina League season. The Orioles Minor League Player of the Month for May, the Keys first baseman has been one of the league's top power threats in the first-half. Over 54 games, Rodriguez is hitting .276 with 10 home runs, 37 RBIs, 10 doubles and two triples. He has racked up 102 total bases to go along with a .486 slugging percentage. The Dominican is second in the CL in home runs and total bases, fourth in best home run/AB ratio (1/21 AB) and fifth in slugging.

Signed by the Orioles as a minor league free agent on January 18, Rodriguez enjoyed a monster May, where he led all Carolina Leaguers in slugging (.583) while he tied for the league lead in home runs and total bases (56) and was second in hitting (.333) and OPS (.968). Last season, Rodriguez split time between Mets and Mariners Double-A affiliates.

Heim, 20, makes his first professional all-star game appearance. The catcher with the highest caught stealing percentage in the Carolina League (35.6%), Heim is tied for second on the Keys in home runs (five) and has nearly as many walks (21) as strikeouts (24). A hitter who has enjoyed the friendly confines of Nymeo Field, the Keys backstop is hitting .280 in home games to go with four homers and 11 RBIs in 24 contests.

Rated the No. 15 prospect in the Orioles system according to Baseball America, Heim is also regarded as the top "Defensive Catcher" based on the publication's "best tools survey." Selected by Baltimore in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, Heim was a non-roster invitee to Orioles Major League spring training this year.

The Carolina League All Stars will be led by Wilmington Blue Rocks Manager Jamie Quirk. Myrtle Beach's Anderson Tavarez serves as pitching coach, while the Pelicans Toby Williams will be the trainer.

The Keys have an off-day on Wednesday before beginning a four-game series with the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium on Thursday. Neither side has announced its starting pitcher. The Keys return home on Thursday, June 16 when the Lynchburg Hillcats come to town for a 7:00 first pitch. For tickets, fans can call the box office at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.

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Carolina League Stories from June 8, 2016


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