If not for the coronavirus pandemic, the Frederick Keys’ 2020 roster likely would’ve featured the Orioles’ top two prospects in catcher Adley Rutschman and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. Instead, they were among the teams sweating out the canceled season as the looming restructuring of the minor leagues drew closer.
Frederick was one of more than 40 cities whose minor league teams lost their affiliations to major league clubs, though the Keys’ inclusion as an inaugural member of the MLB Draft League means the franchise relatively landed on its feet. Still, at a time where the focus in the Orioles organization is primarily on the minor league system and prospects, the Keys will miss out on the benefits of that when the minor leagues return in May.