Whole Different Ball Game in Frederick

It is a whole different ball game at Frederick this season. The parent Baltimore Orioles have stocked their Fast A, Carolina League affiliate with several minor league cream of the crop prospects, and these youngsters are running around the bases, scoring runs, making plays, pitching good baseball and winning lots of ball games.Every fifth day, you can see 2017 BA #2 Orioles prospect and 2016 1st round draft pick out of the University of Illinois, RHP Cody Sedlock and 2017 BA #6 Orioles prospect and 2016 2nd round pick LHP Keegan Akin pitch.Cody Sedlock fires a strikeAt SS you'll find another 1st Rounder (2015) 20-year 6-3 BA #3 Orioles prospect, Ryan Mountcastle, who reminds many fans of former great Cal Ripken at the same position.Ryan Mountcastle Fires to FirstAt 3B, you'll find another 20-year old, power hitting BA #8 Jomar Reyes, who the Orioles are looking down the road for the long ball that characterizes their everyday lineup now.Domar Reyes Hits AwayFleet footed BA #7 Austin Hays, 2016 3rd rounder out of Jacksonville University covers the ground in center field and BA #24 Randolph Gassaway left field.Austin Hays also hits for average and powerSplitting the catching and dh, power hitting BA #31 Yermin Mercedes rounds out the lineup.At a game last week end, I had an unexpected thought when Frederick was at the plate. The Keys youngsters were so aggressive, hungary for a hit, and clobbering the ball I thought about the old 1927 New York Yankees "Murderers Row," (Combs, Koenig, Ruth, Gehrig, Meuse, and Lazzeri). While a stretch comparison, watch these youngster play at Frederick, AA- Bowie, AAA- Norfolk in coming seasons and mark my words, you may be seeing a couple major league superstars in the making.Keegan Akin Delivers Home