Pictured: A Marauders player in recognition of Hispanic Heritage wears a special uniform to celebrate. Photo courtesy of the Bradenton Marauders.

At first glance, the Bradenton Marauders don’t appear to be a must watch team. With a record of just 25-32, they are not at the top of their division, much less the Florida State League. So why should anybody care about a middling Minor League team?

Well, there are a few reasons. The first of which is that a night out at LECOM Park is truly a treat, one of the rare affordable, family friendly sporting events left in the country. According to SeatGeek, the average cost of a single ticket to a Major League Baseball game is $53. That doesn’t include the inordinate amount of money spent on concessions, such as the $20 beers or $15 bottles of water that can be found at most MLB parks around the country. The highest cost of an individual ticket to a Marauders’ game? $13. For just a fraction of the price of attending an MLB game, fans can sit directly behind home plate in LECOM Park. In true Minor League fashion the Marauders front office staff, spearheaded by General Manager Craig Warzecha, are dedicated to making a night at the ballpark a spectacle. From themed jersey nights to constant promotional giveaways, catching a game at LECOM Park is about more than just the on-field action–it’s about enjoying a festive and quintessentially American atmosphere.

However, despite their somewhat mundane record, there is still plenty of reason to follow the on-field action of the Marauders as well. At Single-A, Bradenton is the first real stepping stone of the Minor Leagues. It’s where players advance after progressing through the initial ranks of professional baseball, be it the Dominican Summer League or the Florida Complex League. If players perform well enough in Bradenton to earn a promotion to High-A, then they have a legitimate shot at cracking the big league roster one day. The Marauders are home to many such prospects–seven in fact, of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline currently play for the Marauders. To attend a Marauders game is to get a glimpse of the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

LECOM Park, 1611 9th St W, Bradenton.

Pictured: A Marauders player in recognition of Hispanic Heritage wears a special uniform to celebrate. Photo courtesy of the Bradenton Marauders.

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