Inaugural season Marauders players revealed

The Bradenton Marauders have unveiled the team’s 2010 Inaugural Season roster. Ten members of the 2009 Carolina League Champion Lynchburg Hillcats – the club’s former home – will start their season in Bradenton.  The Marauders are comprised of players from 14 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and three other countries – Canada, Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

The roster features two former first-round and two former second-round draft picks.  RHP Bryan Morris – drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 2006 – was acquired by the Pirates in 2008 during the Jason Bay/Manny Ramirez trade.  Morris was the winning pitcher in Game Five of the first round, best-of-five playoff series against Wilmington last season.  Catcher Tony Sanchez was drafted fourth overall  by the Pirates in 2009.  Sanchez played at three different levels in his first professional season and was ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh’s third-best prospect following the season.

Former second-round draft picks Michael Felix and Jeff Locke – both left-handed pitchers – were also assigned to the Marauders.  Felix was obtained by the Pirates in 2006 in the First Year Player Draft where he was rated as the 94th-best player in the draft by Baseball America.  Locke was acquired from Atlanta in June 2009 after starting the season ranked as the 7th-best prospect in the Braves organization by Baseball America.

The Marauders will also feature outfielders Starling Marte and Robbie Grossman.  Marte – from Santo Domingo, D.R. – signed as a free agent with the Pirates in 2007.  Following the 2009 season, Baseball America named Marte Pittsburgh’s sixth-best prospect, and he was rated as having the ”Best Outfield Arm“ in Pittsburgh’s farm system.  A sixth round draft pick by Pittsburgh, Grossman was a dual sport athlete – baseball and football – in college where he won several accolades, including being rated the 49th-best prospect in the country by Baseball America.  In 2009, Grossman was ranked third in the South Atlantic League in runs scored, second in walks and finished second among Pirates farm hands in stolen bases.

The Marauders will be led by an equally talented coaching staff.  Manager P.J. Forbes – in his second year with Pittsburgh – managed the Carolina League Champion Hillcats last season.  Forbes managed in the Philadelphia farm system for five years before arriving at Pittsburgh.  Wally Whitehurst will serve as the Marauders’ pitching coach.  Whitehurst joined Pittsburgh after five seasons as a pitching coach in the San Diego farm system.  Dave Howard is also in his second season with Pittsburgh and will be the team’s hitting coach.  Athletic trainer Keito Homma, in his third year with the organization, rounds out the first-season Marauders field staff.  Brendan Verner will serve as the team’s strength & conditioning coach.

Forbes is excited about his new team.  ”Our roster is a nice mix of youth and experience and should be an exciting team to watch.   The roster is also a microcosm of how we are trying to build a sustainable championship organization with pieces from the draft, trades and Latin America, said Forbes.“

Opening Day for the Marauders Inaugural Season is Thursday, April 8, 2010 against the Ft. Myers Miracle.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and gates open at 6:00 p.m.  The team will celebrate Thirsty Thursday with select draft beers and fountain sodas for one dollar and a spectacular Fireworks show will follow sponsored by Gold Coast Eagle Distributing.