BALTIMORE — The Frederick Keys 30-year run as an Orioles minor league affiliate has come to an end.
On Thursday, Baltimore announced the latest reshuffling of their farm system.
Replacing the Keys at the Class-A advanced level, will be the Aberdeen IronBirds.
Since their 2002 inception the IronBirds have played in the Class-A short season New York-Penn League, which is two competition levels below the Carolina League where the Keys played.
Meanwhile the Delmarva Shorebirds will remain in Salisbury as the Orioles low Class-A affiliate.
Over in Bowie the Baysox continue to serve as the system's Double-A stop, as they have since 1993.
And staying at the Triple-A level is the Norfolk Tides.
Although Frederick will no longer have any connection to the Orioles, they will become part of the new MLB Draft League which intends to focus on top amateur prospects before they enter the league's annual draft.
