Frederick media day: New Keys skipper talks Scott and Reyes

FREDERICK - Looking for their first playoff berth since winning the Carolina League championship in 2011, the Single-A Frederick Keys start a new season on Thursday night. The Keys play at Myrtle Beach to begin a season-opening seven-game road trip. The home opener is April 14 at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium.

Frederick's new manager is Keith Bodie, who was hitting coach last season for the 2015 Eastern League champion Double-A Bowie Baysox. Bodie is a veteran manager of 18 minor league seasons, winning nine division titles and .525 percent of his games.

The Keys return 14 players from last year's 64-76 team. They have four players ranked in the Orioles' top 30 prospects according to Baseball America with third baseman Jomar Reyes (No. 4), pitcher Tanner Scott (No. 11), catcher Jonah Heim (No. 15) and outfielder Josh Hart (No. 28).

Left-hander Mitch Horacek, who went 7-17 with a 4.90 ERA last year, gets the start on opening night. He led O's minor leaguers in strikeouts last season with 146 over 154 1/3 innings. Left-hander John Means will start the Keys' second game, followed by right-hander Matthew Grimes and southpaw Chipper Smith.

Hunter Harvey, the O's 2013 first-round pick, will start his year with Frederick, although for now he is at extended spring training. Harvey was forced out of last Tuesday's start at Twin Lakes Park in the third inning due to a mild groin strain. The Orioles are targeting the Keys' opening homestand for his first start of 2016.

Bodie has a real bullpen weapon in Scott, the 21-year-old flame-thrower who has touched 100 mph. Scott went 4-3 with a 3.83 ERA last season between short-season Single-A Aberdeen and Single-A Delmarva. He fanned 60 over 42 1/3 innings.

"Tanner Scott is probably the premier left-handed pitcher we have in our organization," Bodie said this afternoon at Keys media day. "He's been blessed with an above average fastball. The reason he is here - where he needs to be - is his lack of experience. Regardless of how gifted you are, you have to be able to throw strikes and manage at-bats when you pitch to hitters of major league caliber. I expect him to progress and get better. With experience, there's no telling, I think he's on the fast track as long as he throws strikes."

It will be interesting to see how the 19-year-old Reyes fares in his first shot at the Carolina League. With Delmarva, he hit .278 with five homers and 44 RBIs in 84 games. He was rated the No. 9 third baseman in the minors by MLBPipeline.com.

"Jomar has tremendous potential and the potential to hit with some power," Bodie said. "He's a good defender at third base, he's agile. He's right where he needs to be. This will be a challenge for him.

"You know, that discipline that you would expect players to have at certain times, he hasn't developed that discipline at the plate yet. It's going to be a process and patience is going to be a key word with Jomar. But he's an exciting player and has a chance to be an impact player for us in the major leagues. It's up to Jomar how quickly that process takes place."

The current Keys roster:

Pitchers: Mitch Horacek, John Means, Matthew Grimes, Chipper Smith, Tanner Scott, Luis Gonzalez, David Richardson, Jimmy Yacabonis, Ivan Hernandez, Garrett Cortright, Tanner Chleborad, Max Schuh, Michael Zouzalik and Austin Urban

Catchers: Jonah Heim, Austin Wynns and Wynston Sawyer

Infielders: Aderlin Rodriguez, Steve Wilkerson, Erick Salcedo, Jomar Reyes, Anthony Caronia and Cam Kneeland

Outfielders: Josh Hart, Jay Gonzalez, Jimmy Bosco, Tad Gold and T.J. Olesczuk

For more information on the team and/or info about tickets, go to frederickkeys.com.