Rifaela Named Carolina League MVP

FREDERICK, MD -The Frederick Keys are excited to announce that Ademar Rifaela has been named the Carolina League Most Valuable Player. He is joined on the postseason roster by former teammate, Ryan Mountcastle , who was named the shortstop on the team.
Rifaela, 22, becomes just the second Keys player to be named Carolina League MVP in the franchise's 29-year history. The first was Brandon Waring, who claimed the award following a stellar 2009 campaign. In 121 games, Rifaela is batting .280/.350/.499 with 24 home runs, 78 RBIs, 21 doubles, one triple, 70 runs scored and seven stolen bases. He currently paces the circuit in home runs, total bases (217), is second in RBIs and slugging percentage, fifth in runs scored and just outside the top five in extra-base hits (46).

Currently, Rifaela is tied for fifth in franchise history in home runs in a single season, trailing all-time leader, Stanton Cameron ('92) by five. Prior to this year, Rifaela had never hit more than 13 home runs in a season (2016) and had never recorded more than 48 RBIs (2016). He has also established new career-highs in hits (122), doubles, runs scored, stolen bases, at-bats and games played.
Signed by the Orioles as an international free agent in 2013, Rifaela is in his first full-season with the Keys. He played five games for Frederick in 2016. The outfielder hails from Willemstad, Curacao, the same hometown as Orioles second baseman and former Key, Jonathan Schoop .
Also a midseason all-star, Mountcastle, 20, posted a slash line of .314/.343/.542 to go with 15 home runs, 47 RBIs, one triple, 35 doubles, 63 runs scored and eight stolen bases over 88 games with the Keys. Promoted to the Double-A Bowie Baysox on July 20, the Floridian led all of Minor League Baseball in doubles at the time of his call-up, while he paced the league in hits (113), extra-base hits (51), total bases (195) and at-bats (360) as well.
The Orioles Minor League Player of the Month for May, Mountcastle batted .315 in 26 contests to go with four home runs, 16 RBIs, six doubles and a .517 slugging percentage. The highlight of the month came on May 26, when he became the second player in Keys history to tally three home runs in a game.
Mountcastle was picked by Baltimore in the first round of the 2015 draft out of Paul J. Hagerty (FL) High School.
Lynchburg's Triston McKenzie was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Year and Hillcats manager, Tony Mansolino, was named the league's Manager of the Year.
The Keys conclude their three-game series with the Salem Red Sox on Thursday night at Nymeo Field. Right-hander Ofelky Peralta (2-10, 5.51) starts for the Keys and will be opposed by Salem left-hander Matthew Kent (7-7, 4.13). First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m and the broadcast can be heard on 1450 AM The Source, frederickkeys.com and the TuneIn Radio App.
Final regular season homestand highlights include Art in the Park Night, the annual Guns and Hoses softball game presented by Berman, Sobin, Gross, Feldman and Darby LLP, two Trolls picnics and Fan Appreciation Day. For tickets fans can call the Keys at 301-815-9939 or visit frederickkeys.com.