BRADENTON (SNN-TV) – The Bradenton Marauders introduced this year’s squad ahead of Friday’s season opener.
“Meet the Marauders” made its way back to LECOM Park for the first time since 2019. A fun-filled night full of games, community fanfare and Marauders fans was capped off with a formal roster announcement and autograph session on the field.
The Marauders look to capitalize on a top-prospect laden roster, including three of the Pirates top-30 players in the organizations farm system, in Termarr Johnson, Thomas Harrington and Shalin Polanco. Jonathan Johnston returns for his third season as the Marauders manager. In 2021, Johnston led the Marauders to the league championship and was named Low-A Southeast Manager-of-the-Year.
A new face at the ballpark and on the call for games is the new voice of the Marauders, Ben Pokorny, coming to the Suncoast by-way of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The 22-year old play-by-play announcer from Barrington, Illinois, is excited for the Minor league season to get underway.
“Minor league baseball at it’s purist, is the fans. I mean, that’s the reason you keep coming to the ballpark to work everyday. That itch has definitely been there a few weeks to get on the mic and start broadcasting. Having all the guys sitting out here, some great prospects behind us that we had today too, you kind of get that feeling that baseball is two days away now.” – Ben Pokorny
The Marauders season begins this Friday at home against the Clearwater Threshers; first pitch is set for 6:30pm. If you can’t make it out to the ballpark, you can hear Ben on the call on BradentonMarauders.com, the MiLB First Pitch App, or watch the game on MLB.TV for a monthly subscription.