Former Frederick Keys' Players in Major League Baseball

Since the Keys were founded in 1989, 24 position players have played at least 50 games for the Frederick Keys and at least 50 in major league baseball. Another 40 pitchers have played in at least 10 Keys' games and at least 10 major league games.

Many other former Keys' players have made it to the major leagues for fewer games, some major league players have had brief stops in Frederick during their minor league careers, and other major league players have played one or a few games in Frederick as an injury rehabilitation assignment. These players with limited experience as a Frederick Key or in the major leagues are not included in this review, with the exception of Brian Roberts who played 48 games with the Keys in 2000.

Because the Frederick Keys are part of the Orioles' farm system, most (51 of 64) of the Frederick Keys alumni who made it to the majors spent at least part of their major league careers with the Orioles. However, every major league team with the exception of the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox has had a former Keys' player.

Each Keys' team from 1989 to 2007 has had at least one player who has played in the Major Leagues, and in most years about five Keys' players make it to the major leagues. The 2000 and 2004 seasons have had the most former Keys' players with major league experience. The ten players who played with the Keys in 2000 and made it to the major leagues were position players Larry Bigbie; Jerry Hairston, Jr.; Gene Kingsale; Tim Raines, Jr.; Brian Roberts; and Jayson Werth as well as pitchers Rick Bauer; Calvin Madura (back in Frederick for injury rehabilitation); Aaron Rakers; and John Stephens.

Similarly, ten players who played with the Keys in 2004 have also made it to the major leagues. These were position players Larry Bigbie (back in Frederick for injury rehabilitation); Brandon Fahey; Jose Morban; and David Segui (also back in Frederick for an injury rehabilitation) as well as pitchers Kurt Birkins; Craig House; Adam Loewen; Hayden Penn; Chris Piersoll; and Chris Ray.

The dean of the Frederick Keys' alumni who played in the most major league games is David Segui, who played in 1,456 major league games, primarily at first base. Among Frederick Keys' pitchers, Armando Benitez has had the most major league appearances at 754 games. The former Keys' player with the highest career major league batting average is Orioles' outfielder Nick Markakis at .296. David Segui is the Keys' alumni with the most major league home runs (139), while Sidney Ponson has the most wins (82) and Armando Benitez has the most career saves (289).

The cumulative career major league batting average among the 24 position players who previously played with the Frederick Keys is .260, similar to these players' .269 batting average when they were in Frederick. However, the pitchers' earned run averages are notably higher in the major leagues than in the minor leagues. The 40 pitchers have a cumulative career major league ERA of 4.44, more than 1 earned run higher than their Frederick cumulative ERA of 3.38.

Enough former Frederick Keys' players have made it to the major leagues since the Keys' founding in 1989 that one could field a 25-player fantasy team of the Keys' alumni. Selecting the 25 players based on those with the most games of major league experience at each position would yield the following fantasy team. Notably, this team does not include two current regular Baltimore Orioles' players, outfielder Nick Markakis and relief pitcher Chris Ray, because they do not yet have enough major league games played as of the end of 2007 to make this fantasy team.

All Former-Frederick Keys Fantasy Baseball Team (with number of major league games played):

1B David Segui, 1456

2B Mike Fontenot, 93

SS Brian Roberts, 821

3B Ricky Gutierrez, 1119

OF David Delucci, 964

OF Jerry Hairston, Jr., 818

OF Alex Ochoa, 807

C Greg Zaun, 1028

SP Sidney Ponson, 259

SP Jimmy Haynes, 227

SP Josh Towers, 137

SP Mike Oquist, 133

SP Garrett Stephenson, 123

RP Armondo Benitez, 754

RP Arthur Rhodes, 653

RP Jay Powell, 512

RP Joe Borowski, 396

RP Anthony Telford, 333

Bench Alex Ochoa, 807

Bench Damon Buford, 699

Bench Manny Alexander 594

Bench Luis Matos, 508

Bench Curtis Goodwin, 431

Bench Larry Bigbie, 392

Bench Jayson Werth, 326