Bradenton Marauders Send a Franchise-Record Nine Players to FSL All-Star Game

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ High-A Affiliate Is Sending Nine to the Florida State League All-Star Game

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system has considerable talent. That much is known. That notion was re-affirmed yesterday when it was announced that the team’s Advanced Single-A affiliate Bradenton Marauders would send a franchise-record nine players to the Florida State League all-star game.

In a press release, the Marauders had this to say on the selections:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The Bradenton Marauders are proud to announce a franchise record nine players have been selected to the 2017 Florida State League All-Star Team. Five pitchers and four position players were elected to represent the South Division. The South Division All-Stars will be managed by Bradenton Manager Gera Alvarez and coached by the Marauders’ coaching staff because the franchise won the 2016 Florida State League championship[/perfectpullquote]

Here are the honorees, with notes from that same release:

RHP Dario Agrazal – Agrazal is 4-2 with an ERA of 3.08. He is among the FSL leaders in innings pitched (61 1/3) and strikeout to walk ratio (45:8).

LHP Jake Brentz – Brentz is 1-2 with an ERA of 4.05. He has two saves and has registered triple digits with his fastball while logging 15 appearances out of the Bradenton bullpen.

LF Logan Hill – Hill has been the premiere run producer in the FSL this season. He leads the circuit in home runs (14), RBIs (42), runs scored (38), and total bases (110).

CF Casey Hughston – Hughston has been an all-around performer for the Marauders in centerfield. In addition to sparkling defense, Hughston has 10 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, and 23 RBIs.

RHP Mitch Keller – Keller is the top pitching prospect in the Pirates organization. Despite being sidelined recently by a back strain, he has posted a 3-2 record and an ERA of 2.93 while striking out 39 batters and walking only eight.

C Christian Kelley – Kelley has added a potent bat to his reputable defensive acumen. The Bradenton backstop is batting .314 with nine extra-base hits and 22 RBIs.

RHP Seth McGarry – A Bradenton native, McGarry has four saves without a blown opportunity. He has been scored on in just two of his 15 appearances and has struck out 22 while posting a 1.27 ERA.

RHP Yunior Montero – Montero has been a workhorse in the Bradenton bullpen, logging 26 1/3 innings and a 4-1 record. He leads the bullpen in strikeouts with 41, a total that is third on the team as a whole.

SS Cole Tucker – The Pirates first round pick in 2014, Tucker has displayed speed and power. He leads the league in stolen bases with 27, which ties him for the franchise record for a single season. Additionally he has recorded nine doubles, five triples, four home runs, and 27 RBIs despite hitting primarily in the leadoff spot.

While it is certainly not surprising to see Keller on this list, there are some surprising names here. Tucker also deserves recognition for what is quickly turning into a breakout season for him. Should he continue at this pace, a promotion to Double-A Altoona is not out of the realm of possibility for the Pirates’ 2014 first-round pick.

In a quirky twist befitting of Minor League Baseball, the opposing North Division team will by managed by former Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jay Bell.