Baltimore Orioles: Frederick Keys Roster Features Top Pitching Prospect

The Baltimore Orioles released their minor league break camp rosters on Friday in advance of MiLB Opening Day on April 4th.  The Frederick Keys roster is highlighted by the organization’s top pitching prospect.

The break camp roster for the Frederick Keys was released Friday evening and it includes three of the Baltimore Orioles Top-30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline.  One of those three, LHP DL Hall, is the organization’s current top pitching prospect.

The roster, which will be finalized by Opening Day on Thursday, April 4th, contains 27 players: 14 pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders, and three outfielders.  It breaks down this way.

CATCHERS

• Ben Breazeale
• Jean Carrillo
• Stuart Levy

INFIELDERS

• Trevor Craport
• J.C. Escarra
• Yeltsin Gudino
• Mason McCoy
• Jomar Reyes
• Ryan Ripken
• Willy Yahn

OUTFIELDERS

• Zach Jarrett
• Kirvin Moesquit
• Jake Ring

LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS

• Cameron Bishop
• DL Hall
• Cameron Ming
• Travis Seabrooke

RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS

• Diogenes Almengo
• Michael Baumann
• Scott Burke
• Matthias Dietz
• Brenan Hanifee
• Francisco Jimenez
• Steven Klimek
• David Lebron
• Luis Perez
• Cody Sedlock

Notable takeaways from the roster are that there are two former first-round draft picks (Hall and Sedlock) on it and this is now the fourth consecutive season that Reyes has played in Frederick.  I wrote about 2019 being a make or break season for Reyes weeks ago.  It is really unfortunate that this once top prospect cannot move beyond the A-Adv. level.

Another notable observation is the fact that Escarra and Yahn skipped a level to be on the Keys roster; they both played at Aberdeen (A-Short) in 2018.

Baumann, Bishop, Hall, and Hanifee should form the core of another solid Baltimore Orioles MiLB rotation.  Hopefully, Sedlock will move past his previous injuries and show why he was a first-round draft pick.

The Orioles under manager Brandon Hyde are emphasizing stolen bases and smart baserunning (i.e. taking the extra base) this season, so it will be fun to watch the organization’s top base stealer in 2018, Moesquit, run the bases in 2019.  Small ball will certainly make a comeback.

Craport and Jarrett should provide the offensive firepower for the Keys at hitter-friendly Harry Grove Stadium.

As luck would have it, the Keys are hosting the Carolina League All-Star Classic this year on June 18th.  It would be nice to see some of the Keys, especially Hall, represent the team on their home field during the All-Star break.

The Keys roster is another one filled with top prospects and prospects worth watching.  Orioles fans will not be disappointed with the baseball they see should they make the trip out I-70 to Nymeo Field.