The Keys will once again be affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles.
(Image from the Frederick Keys Facebook page)
Frederick, Md. There’s good news for baseball fans in Frederick. A major-league-affiliated team will be returning to the city next year. Attain Sports announced a major reorganization within it’s baseball team portfolio. It says the Baltimore Orioles High-A affiliated team in Aberdeen will relocate to Frederick, and take the name of the Frederick Keys. It also says the Major League Draft League team in Frederick will move to Aberdeen, and be called the Aberdeen Iron Birds. Both teams are owned by Attain Sports.
“We are thrilled that affiliated baseball is returning to Frederick,” says Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias in a statement. “The Frederick community and fans have always been strong supporters of the Orioles, and we look forward to building on a 30-year partnership with the Keys.”
The Frederick Keys were affiliated as a Class A team with the Orioles from 1989 to 2020.
Attain Sports says Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, the home of the Keys, has been under renovation since May, 2025. It says the upgrades will enhance the experience for both the players and the fans. They include new home and visitors clubhouses, state-of-the-art batting cages, new bullpens, an expanded concourse and additional fan seating options.
The renovation work is expected to be completed by the start of the 2026 season.
The company says the renovations will support the Frederick Keys in meeting Major League Standards. But the team is also looking at ways to use the stadium all year around, and that will offer more opportunities for community use during the off season.
The renovation work is the result of a partnership between the City of Frederick, the Maryland Stadium Authority and Attain Sports.
“The return of affiliated baseball marks a historic milestone for the City of Frederick, says Greg Baroni, the founder of Attain Sports, in a statement. “We’re honored to support Frederick in realizing its vision of bringing a Baltimore Orioles Minor League affiliate back home, and we’re excited for what this next chapter will bring.”
By Kevin McManus