2026 Frederick Keys Top 10 Moments

The 2026 Frederick Keys season was historic and full of many firsts in the team’s first year back in Birdland since 2019. From setting a new franchise wins record to welcoming Major League rehab assignments to Nymeo Field, the Keys made history both on and off the field throughout an unforgettable season.

Here are the top 10 moments from the 2026 Keys season:

HM. Two Home Runs on Home Opening Night Hit by Ike Irish and Victor Figueroa (Tuesday, April 14 vs Hudson Valley)

On Tuesday, April 14, the Frederick Keys took the field as an Orioles affiliate for the first time in seven years. Despite waiting an extra hour due to inclement weather, fans stuck around and provided an atmosphere that was simply electric. They didn't have to wait long for fireworks, as Ike Irish and Victor Figueroa each launched solo home runs in the first and second innings, respectively, sending the crowd to its feet and officially welcoming Frederick back into Birdland.

10. Keys Turn Triple Play (Saturday, June 6 vs Hudson Valley)

Frederick made plenty of history on the field throughout the season, but one defensive play stood out above the rest. On Saturday, June 6, the Keys turned their first triple play of the season against the Hudson Valley Renegades, becoming one of just 16 Minor League teams across all levels to accomplish the feat in 2026. The play began when Wehiwa Aloy snagged a line drive at third base for the first out. Leandro Arias secured the second out with a throw to second base before Victor Figueroa completed the triple play at first. It marked the 17th triple play turned across Major and Minor League Baseball during the calendar year and the first in nearly 20 years in Keys history.

9. Keys Get Walk-Off Win off Bat of Elis Cuevas (Friday, May 8 vs Jersey Shore)

Frederick finished the 2026 season with nine walk-off victories and their biggest and loudest came back on May 8 in their fourth in a row against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. The Keys and BlueClaws battled through an emotional back-and-forth contest that lasted 11 innings and more than three and a half hours. After Maikol Hernandez tied the game with a two-run shot, Elis Cuevas sent a no doubter over the right field wall to win the game 11-10 Friday night. This came after a combined 10 runs were scored in the last three innings of the game, as Frederick continued its climb up the first half standings.

8. Keys Get Second Six-Game Sweep of Season (Sunday, August 9 at Jersey Shore)

This season provided many firsts for the Keys, including a new six-game series format in place of the traditional three-game sets. It didn’t take long for Frederick to get used to the change, sweeping two six-game road series in a single season for the first time in team history. Their second series sweep took place on August 9 at Jersey Shore as they won the series finale by a score of 15-8 on August 9. They also picked up four saves in the first six games of the series, as the Keys continued their historic 2026 campaign in style on the shore.

7. Jackson Holliday Rehabs in Frederick on Home Opening Weekend (Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19 vs Hudson Valley)

As part of an action-packed first homestand, the Keys welcomed their first of two Major League rehab assignments of the season when Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday made his Frederick debut on Saturday, April 18. Holliday played in two games during the weekend and played in front of a combined 10,737 fans at Nymeo Field. He finished with an RBI double in game two on Sunday while playing solid at second base during game one, helping the Keys begin their return to affiliation on a high note.

6. Wehiwa Aloy Hits Three Homers vs Jersey Shore (Sunday, May 10 at Jersey Shore)

On Mother’s Day, Frederick capped off a series win over Jersey Shore by hitting a total of seven home runs with three of the long balls coming from shortstop Wehiwa Aloy. Aloy’s three homers on Sunday afternoon set himself into Frederick history, as he became the first Keys player to hit three homers in a single game since Ryan Mountcastle accomplished the feat on May 26, 2017. His first one came as part of a third-straight homer to lead off the game along with Reed Trimble and Ike Irish, with his other two being moonshots over the left-center field wall to get him three total homers as part of a historic series finale.

5. Joseph Dzierwa Goes Six Scoreless on Opening Night (Friday, April 3 at Hub City)

The Keys set the tone from game one of the season against the Hub City Spartanburgers after their top-ranked pitcher in Joseph Dzierwa began his time in Birdland with six innings of one-hit ball and nine strikeouts with only one walk allowed. The lone hit he gave up was an infield single down the first base line, helping the Keys win their first game as an Orioles affiliate since September 2019. From that point on in his time in Frederick, as he remained as their ace in the starting rotation through May 17 before he got the call up to join Double-A Chesapeake.

4. First Playoff Victory in Nine Years (Tuesday, September 8 at Greensboro)

As part of the historic 2026 season for the Keys, they made the postseason for the first time since 2017 and began their playoff run with an emphatic game one victory on the road against the Greensboro Grasshoppers. On Tuesday, September 8, the Keys traveled to First National Bank Field in Greensboro for the first time in team history and took down the Grasshoppers by a score of 13-1 thanks to a nine-run top of the eighth inning offensively. Home runs during the game from Ty Head and Enddy Azocar led the way for Frederick, while Boston Bateman finished with 10 strikeouts in five innings of work, with the 10 punchouts being career-high in the game one victory on the road.

3. Keys Secure Second Half Title and Best League Record (Saturday, September 5 at Brooklyn)

Frederick capped its historic 2026 regular season with 83 total wins and a second half title in the South Atlantic League North Division, as their 82nd and second half clinching victory coming in game five of the final regular season series against the Brooklyn Cyclones. On Saturday, September 5 at Maimonides Park, the Keys scored the final five runs of the game including a 5-5 night for leadoff man DJ Layton with two RBIs, the Keys held off the Cyclones to get themselves the second half title and securing the best record in the South Atlantic League and across Minor League Baseball.

2. Keys Secure First Half Title and First Playoff Berth Since 2017 (Thursday, June 18 vs Hub City)

The Keys cemented their playoff chances on Thursday, June 18 in game four of the seven-game series against the Hub City Spartanburgers, winning the decisive win and in game Thursday night. Following a doubleheader sweep the day prior, the Keys went into Thursday needing a win or a Greensboro loss to get themselves their first playoff berth in nine years. JT Quinn tossed five innings of two-run ball to start

the day on the mound, while Ike Irish, Wehiwa Aloy, Elis Cuevas, and Leandro Arias all chipped in RBIs to get the Keys to the finish line of the first half with a 6-5 victory.

1. Keys Become All-Time Winningest Team in Franchise History with 81st Win (Friday, September 4 at Brooklyn)

The 2026 Frederick Keys officially sent themselves into history forever with their 81st win of the regular season, as the victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones on Friday, September 4 put the 2026 roster as the winningest group in the regular season in franchise history. Despite heading into the eighth inning down by four runs, a seven-run top of the eighth inning capped off by a three-run go-ahead homer by Yasmil Bucce handed Frederick the lead for good, with Teddy Sharkey and Braeden Sloan capping off the night with two scoreless innings on the mound, sending the Keys into the history books in year 36 of Keys baseball.