FREDERICK -- The luxury of having success throughout a club's farm system is that no team at any level gets shortchanged the next season.
Take the Single-A Frederick Keys. Six prominent members of Delmarva's South Atlantic League champions -- Ryan Minor, Calvin Pickering and pitchers Ryan Kohlmeier, Scott Eibey, Gabe Molina and Maximo Heredia -- bypassed the Keys and jumped directly to Double-A Bowie this year.
With those players, the Keys might have been a Carolina League powerhouse. Even without them, Frederick doesn't figure to do too badly.
That's because the Orioles' rookie-league team at Bluefield also won a title and two key members of that team -- closer David Mastrolonardo and shortstop Jerry Hairston -- jumped two rungs in the system to play at Frederick.
"They say the nucleus of our club went to Bowie," said Keys manager Tommy Shields, who moved up from Delmarva. "But the core of last year's team is here, and we have two big prospects from Bluefield."
Without much proven power, the Keys will field a team that will depend on nine holdovers, 17 former Shorebirds and a run-and-hit, hit-and-run offense. "We will be exciting and run a lot," said Shields. "If we can't run, we'll figure out ways to start. We might look ugly one night and come back the next as world-beaters."
The central figure in the track meet is expected to be center fielder Darrell Dent, who had 60 steals last season, but batted only .234 and struck out 110 times. If the leadoff man can improve his on-base percentage, the Keys will be that much better.
Add 36 steals by Maleke Fowler, 20 by Carlos Casimiro and 19 by Ivan Coffie and Frederick should indeed make its attack interesting.
Shields is confident his ex-Shorebirds can go to Bowie without too many problems, but he will miss the slugging of Pickering and Minor and the air-tight bullpen work of three others.
"If I wanted those guys, I wouldn't be doing my job properly," he said. "You want to get them to Baltimore as quickly as possible, and they have the ability to be where they are. They might struggle at first, but I'm confident in them."
Frederick begins its ninth year at Grove Stadium (10th overall) with few changes in the physical plant. Improvements to the park include an expanded children's area and inflatable speed-pitch machine.
General manager Joe Preseren is anticipating a good season at the gate.
"We open a week later and start with a week on the road, so we only have seven April dates," he said. "That gives us a favorable schedule."
Frederick Keys at a glance
Stadium: Harry Grove, Frederick
Directions to stadium: From the Baltimore Beltway, take I-70 West to Market Street. Take left at light and a second left behind the stadium.
Class: Single-A
League: Carolina
Record last year: 69-71; won first half of Northern Division to qualify for playoffs. Lost in first round to Lynchburg, 2 games to 0.
Manager: Tommy Shields
General manager: Joe Preseren
Affiliation: Orioles
Game times: Monday-Saturday, 7: 05 p.m; Sunday: 1: 05 p.m.; May 4, 12: 35 p.m.; Fireworks nights, 6: 35 p.m.
Ticket prices: Field box, $10; reserve box, $8; adult general admission, $6; children general admission, $3.
Radio: WXTR (820 AM)
Phone number: 301-662-0013
Pitching rotation: Brian Falkenborg; Chad Paronto; John Parrish; Abraham Hacen; Cameron Forbes. Americo Peguero is on the disabled list, but should start when he returns next month.
Starting lineup: Darrell Dent, CF; Jerry Hairston, SS; Ivan Coffie, 3B; Tim DeCinces, 1B; Carlos Casimiro, 2B; Jason LeCronier, DH; Miguel Mejia, RF; Charles Alley, C; Maleke Fowler, LF.
Top pitching prospect: Falkenborg was erratic as Delmarva's No. 1 starter, but big things are still anticipated from the former second-round draft pick.
Top hitting prospect: Hairston batted .330 at Bluefield with 36 RBIs. He has a solid baseball background, knows the game
thoroughly and has a bright future.
Keys schedule
April
17--Salem, 6: 35; 18--Salem, 7: 05; 19--Salem, 1: 05; 20--Lynchburg, 7: 05; 21--Lynchburg, 7: 05; 22--Lynchburg, 7: 05; 23--Lynchburg, 7: 05; 24--at Kinston, 7; 25--at Kinston, 7; 26--at Kinston, 2; 28--at Winston-Salem, 7: 15; 29--at Winston-Salem, 7: 15; 30--at Winston-Salem, 7: 15.
May
1--Wilmington, 7: 05; 2--Wilmington, 7: 05; 3--Wilmington, 1: 05; 4--Winston-Salem, 12: 35; 5--Winston- Salem, 7: 05; 6--Winston-Salem, 7: 05; 7--Winston-Salem, 7: 05; 8--at Salem, 7; 9--at Salem, 7; 10--at Salem, 2; 11--Danville, 7: 05; 12--Danville, 7: 05; 13--Danville, 7: 05; 14--Danville, 7: 05; 15--at Prince William, 7: 30; 16--at Prince William, 7; 17--at Prince William, 1: 30; 19--at Danville, 7; 20--at Danville, 7; 21--at Danville, 7; 22--Prince William, 7: 05; 23--Prince William, 7: 05; 24--Prince William, 1: 05; 25--Kinston, 6: 35; 26--Kinston, 7: 05; 27--Kinston, 7: 05; 28--at Wilmington, 7: 05; 29--at Wilmington, 7: 05; 30--at Wilmington, 2: 05; 31--at Wilmington, 2: 05.
June
