Pittsburgh Pirates Minor League Check In: The Bradenton Marauders

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.