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Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Check In: The Bradenton Marauders
By: John Toth
Major League Baseball is not the only baseball that has arrived in 2024. Minor league baseball has kicked off its campaign and Draft Nation will take a look at each affiliate in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. Today, the Bradenton Marauders are on deck, the Pirates low-A team that plays as part of the Florida State League. More information on each of these prospects can be found in the Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Guide.
Pitchers
Hunter Barco- L/L- 2nd round pick (2022)- #14 prospect
Brandan Bidois- R/R - FA signing (2019)
Elijah Birdsong- R/R- 18th round pick (2022)
Danny Carrion- R/R- 9th round pick (2023)
Hung-Leng Chang- R/R- FA signing (2022)
Magdiel Cotto- L/L- 11th round pick (2023)
Yoldin De La Paz- L/L- FA signing (2019)
Wilber Dotel- R/R- FA signing (2020)- #38 prospect
Alessandro Ercolani- R/R- FA signing (2021)- #32 prospect
Drake Fellows- L/R- 6th round pick (2019)
Luigi Hernandez- R/R- FA signing (2021)
Carlos Jimenez- R/R- FA signing (2018)- #33 prospect
Owen Kellington- L/R- 4th round pick (2021)- #22 prospect
Antwone Kelly- R/R- FA signing (2021)
Michael Kennedy- L/L- 4th round pick (2022)- #11 prospect
Johan Montero- R/R- FA signing (2018)
Dominic Perachi- L/L- 11th round pick (2022)
Luis Peralta- L/L- FA signing (2017)
Patrick Reilly- R/R- 5th round pick (2023)- #44 prospect
Landon Tomkins- R/R- 10th round pick (2023)
Mike Walsh- R/R- 9th round pick (2022)
Jaden Woods- L/L- 7th round pick (2023)- #46 prospect
Catchers
Omar Alfonzo- L/R- FA signing (2019)- #41 prospect
Justin Miknis- L/R- 16th round pick (2023)
Geovanny Planchart- R/R- FA signing (2019)
Infielders
3B- Jesus Castillo- B/R- FA signing (2019)
SS- Yordany De Los Santos- R/R- FA signing (2022)- #16 prospect
1B- Garett Forrester- R/R- 3rd round pick (2023)- #25 prospect
3B- Kalae Harrison- L/R- 18th round pick (2023)
SS- Mitch Jebb- L/R/- 2nd round pick (2023)- #13 prospect
IF- Juan Jerez- R/R- FA signing (2018)
IF- Alexander Mojica- R/R- FA signing (2018)
SS- Javier Rivas- R/R- FA signing (2019)
1B- Esmerlyn Valdez- R/R- FA signing (2021)- #37 prospect
Outfielders
Sergio Campana- R/R- FA signing (2018)
Charles McAdoo- R/R- 13 round pick (2023)- #47 prospect
Rodolfo Nolasco- R/R- FA signing (2018)
Shalin Polanco- L/L- FA signing (2020)- #29 prospect
Enmanuel Terrero- L/L- FA signing (2019)- #36 prospect
Lonnie White, Jr.- R/R- Collective Balance- B (64 overall, 2021)- #9 prospect
What to Look For
The Bradenton Marauders had 17 of the Pirates top 50 prospects on their opening day roster. The pitching staff is an exciting group, led by left-handers Michael Kennedy and Hunter Barco, who are ranked #11 and #14 respectively. Other top-50 prospects starting the season in Bradenton are Wilber Dotel, Alessandro Ercolani, Carlos Jimenez, Owen Kellington, Patrick Reilly, and Jaden Woods. The Pirates are in particular looking forward to seeing the growth of Kennedy who brings an exceptionally advanced approach and excellent command for such a young pitcher. Barco was a potential 1st round pick in 2022 but an early career Tommy John surgery derailed those plans.
Two exciting players to watch this spring are IF/OF Mitch Jebb and outfielder Lonnie White. Jebb plays the game hard and is a future table setter for the Pirates down the road. White was a two-sport star who was heavily recruited by Penn State for football. The Pirates nabbed him in the Competitive Balance round B of the 2021 MLB Draft. He suffered through injuries in his first couple minor league seasons but seemed to hit full stride during the 2nd half of last season. He is a 5-tool athlete who can change a game. If he can stay healthy, White will start climbing the organizational ladder.
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