Keys Sign Four-Year Extension With Orioles

FREDERICK, MD -On Thursday, the Frederick Keys announced a four-year extension of the club's player development contract with the Baltimore Orioles. The extension keeps the Keys as the Orioles Advanced Class-A affiliate through the 2018 season.

"The Orioles brand has certainly been synonymous with baseball in Frederick going back to our inaugural year in 1989. We could not be more pleased than to extend this wonderful partnership for another four years," said Keys General Manager Dave Ziedelis.

The four-year contract comes on the heels of a four-year deal signed in August 2010. During that time, the Keys have captured a Northern Division title and a Mills Cup in 2011. Currently, Frederick has the longest-tenured relationship with its parent affiliate in the Carolina League. Additionally, the Keys are the only CL team which has had just one affiliate in the history of the franchise.

One of the top family entertainment options in the state of Maryland, the Keys have led the Carolina League in attendance each of the last three years. Frederick has also has boasted the top attendance mark in all of Advanced-A during that time, eclipsing its counterparts in the Carolina, Florida State and California Leagues. Over the club's 26-year history, more than 7.3 million fans have passed through the gates, including more than 1.25 million in the last four seasons.

In more than a quarter-century, over 130 former Keys have advanced to the Major Leagues. That includes standouts such as Matt Wieters, Manny Machado, Nick Markakis and Zach Britton. The Keys are four-time Carolina League Champions (1990, 2005, 2007, 2011) and have made the postseason in five of their last 10 seasons.