Rodger’s Diary - 2008 Frederick Keys
I can remember taking my first photo of a Frederick Keys player, RHP Ben McDonald, back in August, 1989.
Ben McDonald, who was the Orioles’ #1 draft pick the previous June, was making his first professional appearance on a hot summer night at the old American Legion field and I was very anxious to get a photography scoop of this promising prospect before all the other minor league photographers.
Keys GM Keith Lupton set me up for posed shots of McDonald while warming up in the bullpen.
and thanks to him and Ben, I was on my way to my second cover shot ever, Minor League Baseball in the November, 1989 issue.
Nineteen seasons later, I have seen Frederick play four games by May 7th: , Lynchburg, Potomac, Kinston and Salem.
Brandon Tripp highlighted the Kinston game with his 6th and 7th homeruns of the 2008 campaign and Matt Wieters the Potomac game with his fifth homerun.
Frederick’s roster is crowded with Baseball America prospects, #1 Matt Wieters, catcher, #5 Bill Rowell, 3B, #6 Brandon Snyder 1B, #7 Jake Arrieta, RHP, #9 Pedro Beato RHP, #10 Brandon Erbe, RHP, #13 Tim Bascom, RHP, #17 Brandon Tripp, RF, and #25 Chris Vinyard, 1B.