Arrieta, Beasley and Hicks Among Keys in 2015 Postseason

FREDERICK, Md. -The Baltimore Orioles may have missed the playoffs, but two former Frederick Keys players and one ex-radio broadcaster will be taking part in the 2015 postseason. Jake Arrieta headlines the Cubs starting rotation, while Tony Beasley coaches third base for the Rangers. Also a member of the Texas team, Matt Hicks details all the action on the Rangers Radio Network.  

Already a winner in his postseason debut, Arrieta delivered a masterful performance on Wednesday night in the National League wild-card game. Firing off a four-hit shutout, the right-hander struck out 11 and walked none in his first career playoff start. In the process, he lifted his team to a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, setting up an NLDS matchup with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The first Cubs pitcher to throw a postseason shutout in 70 years, Arrieta put together one of the best regular seasons in team history. A strong candidate for the NL Cy Young Award, the former Key went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA in 33 starts, while he turned in 20 consecutive quality outings to end the year, the first to do so in big league history. At his best in the second-half, Arrieta went 12-1 with a 0.75 ERA, and threw a no-hitter against the Dodgers on August 30.  

Originally selected by the Orioles in the fifth round of the 2007 draft, Arrieta's lone season with Frederick came in 2008, when he went 6-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 20 games. That year he was named a Midseason and Postseason Carolina League All-Star, and finished with the fifth-best ERA in franchise history. Arrieta was also selected to the Futures Game and pitched for Team USA at the Summer Olympics.

A Midseason All-Star for the Keys in 1991, Beasley played two seasons for the orange and black (1990-91). During that time, he hit 16 triples, giving him the second-most in franchise history. Following his time in Frederick, Beasley moved on to the Pirates where he played until 1998.  

Beginning his managerial career in 2001 with Williamsport, Beasley joined the Pirates coaching staff in 2008, and spent three years as the club's third base coach. From there he moved to the Nationals, before being named as the Rangers third base coach in November 2014.

When Beasley arrived in Texas, he was reunited with a familiar face in Hicks. The original radio voice of the Keys, Hicks was with the team from 1989 to 1994, before moving to El Paso and Corpus Christi in the Texas League. The second time he has gotten to call postseason play, the D.C native joined the Rangers in June 2012. Hicks is the second former Keys announcer to call postseason play for a Major League franchise in 2015, joining Bob Socci, who detailed the New England Patriots run to a Super Bowl title for the Patriots Radio Network.

The Frederick Keys kickoff their 2016 campaign on Thursday, April 7 against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on the Grand Strand. Planning is already underway for next season, while a full promotional schedule will be released at a later date. For ticket information and news about the team, fans can visit frederickkeys.com.