As of Aug. 1, 2025, the Frederick Keys were named the Baltimore Orioles High-A affiliate team. The Frederick Keys, of Frederick Md., were a part of the Orioles farm system from 1989-2020. Many notable players have worn a Keys jersey, such as Manny Machado, Trey Mancini, Mickey Moniak, John Means, Jonathan Schoop, among many others. But what does their return to being a High A affiliate mean for fans?
While the Keys aren’t exactly a Triple-A team, their rosters still feature up-and-coming MLB stars. From 2021 to now, there are five steps you have to take before you can become a Baltimore Oriole. Players start in the Rookie League after they have been drafted, usually playing for a very brief time before moving on. The team is hosted in Sarasota, Fl., with the FCL Orioles. The next step is playing Single-A with the Delmarva Shorebirds. This team is based in Salisbury, Md. and plays in the Carolina League. Next, the players move onto the High-A level which is now the Frederick Keys. In the past, this stage was hosted by the Aberdeen Ironbirds. The Ironbirds had been a replacement for the Frederick Keys for the 2021 to 2025 seasons due to urgent requests for a stadium upgrade from the Keys. The renovations were completed in the middle of the 2025 season, making the Keys available to host Orioles prospects once again. The last two stages before becoming a Baltimore Oriole are in the Double-A and Triple-A leagues. Double-A is hosted by the Chesapeake Baysox and Triple-A by the dominant Norfolk Tides.
Many fans love to attend minor league games due to the familiar feeling and personal experience they identify with a smaller stadium. The Keys offer many fun interactions with fans that satisfy all needs. During most games, fans will see their mascot, Keyote, walking around the park. Don’t be afraid to go up to Keyote, as he takes pictures and signs autographs for fans of all ages. During the game, the announcers will hype up the crowd by directing them to “shake your keys.” A moment in the game where all fans take their car keys, house keys or any keys on them, and jingle them in the air. If you have young fans in your home, bring them to a game where all fans of all ages are encouraged to run the bases like a major league star after the game concludes. A fan favorite ticket package is the “Anthem Buddies,” where, with purchase, you receive ten tickets to stand on the field with a player during the national anthem, ten field level seats in the game, ten hotdog meals, ten Keys logo baseballs (which can be signed by Keyote) and a personalized shout-out on the scoreboard during the game. All of these promotions, along with many more, make the Frederick Keys stand out for their outstanding fan satisfaction.
Their home field is located at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, named after one of the original players on the Frederick Hustlers. The Frederick Hustlers was a professional team that only existed from 1915 to the start of World War II. The family of Harry Grove donated $250,000 to the city of Frederick to fund the building of the stadium. The construction was completed in 1990 and not many renovations have happened since then. In 2009, they replaced the scoreboard and sound equipment to something more modern, and by the end of the 2009 season they had added full public restrooms for fans. In August of 2024, a 39 million dollar renovation was approved and the building commenced. The upgrades include new home/visitor clubhouses, brand new batting cages, fresh bullpens, an expanded concourse, more seating and fresher public bathrooms. These new amenities are all in order to upgrade the fan experience and make it feel like a major league game while maintaining the personalized experience you receive.
Find some time this season to catch the Frederick Keys and upcoming Orioles stars in action. The Keys home opener occurs on April 14, at 7 p.m. against the Hudson Valley Renegades, a Yankees affiliate. You can expect the Keys to follow a specific game-time schedule for the full season. Games played Tuesday through Friday are 7p.m., Saturdays at 6p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.. Their full game schedule can be found here on the official Frederick Keys website. Catch a game and maybe a picture with Keyote, you won’t regret going.
