Bradenton Marauders

The Bradenton Marauders are the Single-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, competing in the Florida State League at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. The franchise was established in 2010 when the Pirates purchased the Sarasota Reds and relocated the team to their spring training home at McKechnie Field (now LECOM Park), giving Pittsburgh a year-round presence in the Gulf Coast community.

The Marauders have served as a critical rung on the Pirates' developmental ladder, producing an impressive parade of future major leaguers. Gerrit Cole, Jameson Taillon, Mitch Keller, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Josh Bell, Gregory Polanco, and most recently Paul Skenes all passed through Bradenton on their way to Pittsburgh. The proximity to the Pirates' spring training operations and the adjacent Pirate City player development complex creates a seamless development environment.

On the field, the Marauders have enjoyed consistent success, highlighted by two league championships. The 2016 squad captured the franchise's first Florida State League title, defeating the Tampa Yankees three games to one. The 2021 team added a second championship, winning the Low-A Southeast crown. The team has been a regular playoff contender throughout its existence, making the postseason in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, and 2021.

LECOM Park holds a special place in Florida baseball history. Originally built in 1923 as McKechnie Field, it is one of the oldest spring training facilities in the state. The ballpark was renamed LECOM Park in 2017 through a naming rights deal with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. The intimate, 8,500-seat venue provides fans with a classic Florida baseball experience just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico.