Minors Review: Frederick Keys

Through 42 games, your Frederick Keys are 22-20, a game and a half behind the Lynchburg Hillcats in the Northern division of the Carolina League. The Keys are third in the eight team league in attendance.

Who is hot?

Eduardo Rodriguez is a 6' 2" 200 pound 20 y/o southpaw signed out of Venezuela a few years back. He comes in as a top 5 Oriole prospect and even merited some attention on top 100 lists coming into the season, and is being noticed by other friends within SB Nation. Through 50 IP this season, he carries a K/BB of 42/14 with a FIP of 3.29. I would expect him to be on an innings limit of around 130, since he threw 107 last year. It has been a great start and you have to wonder where he would end up on top 100 lists if he can keep this up.

The other pitcher garnering a lot of attention is Tim Berry. 2013 is Berry's second tour of duty in Frederick, so that is a pretty significant qualifier when looking at the 22 y/o southpaw's pitching line. In 43.2 IP he carries a K/BB of 46/13 with a FIP of 3.60. This is an improvement on his 2012 numbers at Frederick, where he posted a FIP of 3.84 and a K/BB of 61/20 in 75 IP. I really feel like the time is now for him to be in Bowie, and hopefully he will get that chance and run with it. Pretty impressive for a 50th round pick...

Zach Davies is the other starter worth following in Frederick. Davies is a 20 y/o righty who was something of a bonus baby a few years back. Davies has posted a K/BB of 33/12 in 44.1 IP with a FIP of 4.05 and a GB/FB ratio of 1.82. He has not the easiest go of it of the starters mentioned so far, as his FIP is shinier than his ERA (4.26).

20 year old Nicky Delmonico is likely the best hitter on the team. He bats from the left side, and while he missed some time due to a concussion and then a hamstring injury, he has posted the following slash line in 18 games: 328/463/625/1.088. That is a very impressive 18 game spell in Frederick. He has a K/BB of 17/16 in 64 at bats. Hopefully he can stay healthy, which he has struggled with, and can produce. You almost wonder if health was on the scouting scale, what # would be assigned? 50? But you look at the age against level, ability to draw a walk, and his ISO, and you wonder. The other issue with him is the glove, but it's hard to really measure anything statistically on that front given different fields and other playing conditions.

Christian Walker was just promoted, but I think it's fair to leave him to the Delmarva article. But to get back to guys who spent a great deal of time in Frederick...

Who is not hot?

Glynn Davis is a guy easy to root for, with his Catonsville roots and all, but I continue to struggle to close my eyes and see what some see. The silver lining is his ISO improvement, but nonetheless his slash line is 233/328/358/687 with six steals against 3 times caught. He carries a 28/17 K/BB in 120 at bats. While he is still only 21, I am just not certain of what the Orioles have in him. He also hasn't played in a week.

Brenden Webb, the 23 y/o Californian, has also struggled in the Carolina League. He is batting .197, OBPing 287 and is slugging 311 with an OPS of 597. He has posted a K/BB of 41/15 in 132 at bats.

Jesse Beal is a guy of interest out of the bullpen. A former bonus baby, the 22 y/o right handed Virginian stands 6' 6"; this year he has struck out 19 in 18.2 IP, though he sports an ugly ERA north of 8!