He spent just one season at Birmingham, then was hired as manager of the Frederick Keys 49 games into the 2008 campaign on May 26, replacing Tommy Thompson who was granted a leave of absence due to personal reasons. In the two seasons under Hebner's watch, the Keys went 35–55 (6–15/29–40) in 2008 and 64–75 (31–38/33–37) in 2009. He was named the hitting coach for the Norfolk Tides on January 7, 2010; he lasted one season in that capacity, as the Orioles declined to retain him on September 24.