Minor-league baseball may be coming to McKechnie

BRADENTON — The Florida State League may be coming to Bradenton.

Frank Coonelly, president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, said the team is “very close” to purchasing the Cincinnati Reds’ high Single-A affiliate located in Sarasota and moving it to McKechnie Field, spring training home of the Pirates since 1969.

“We will not be able to make a formal announcement of the purchase and move to Bradenton,” Coonelly said in a statement issued today by the team, “until the Florida State League votes on the proposed transaction at its meetings in two weeks.”

If approved, the high Single-A team will play 70 games in Bradenton, beginning this summer.

“If completed,” Coonelly said, “the move will allow us to take even greater advantage of McKechnie Field and our new Pirate City facilities. In addition to the benefits to our minor league players and our development staff, the move of our High-A team to Bradenton would allow us to have rehabbing major league players begin their return to work in Bradenton, where we have our rehab coordinator and rehab facilities.

“We will also deepen the Pirates’ commitment to the City of Bradenton by having a year-round baseball and community presence.”

The Pirates’ high Single-A team is currently located in Lynchburg, Va.