BRADENTON -- The Bradenton Marauders have a new captain to steer their ship.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, the parent club of the high Single-A Marauders, announced Friday that Frank Kremblas has been named Bradenton's third manager in its four-year history.

Kremblas replaces Carlos Garcia, who will lead the Pirates' Double-A team in Altoona, Pa.

Garcia managed the Marauders in 2011 and '12, leading them to one playoff appearance.

Kremblas, 46, spent last season serving as the Pirates' special assistant to minor league operations and managed the organization's Triple-A team in Indianapolis in 2009 and '10.

A 23rd-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds in 1989, Kremblas spent eight seasons as a player in the organization before beginning his managerial career with the Montreal Expos' Gulf Coast League team in 1998.

In 13 seasons managing in the Expos and Milwaukee Brewers' chains, Kremblas has a career record of 896-859 (.511) and led the Nashville Sounds to the Pacific Coast League title in 2005. A Triple-A affiliate of the Brewers, that Sounds team included future major leaguers such as Prince Fielder, Nelson Cruz and Corey Hart.

Kremblas is managing Leones del Caracas of the Venezuelan Winter League.

Football also runs through Kremblas' blood -- his father, Frank Sr., was a quarterback and three-year letterwinner at Ohio State from 1956-58 who led the Buckeyes to the 1957 national championship.

The Pirates also announced Friday that Justin Meccage will serve as the Marauders' pitching coach and Edgar Varela will be the hitting coach.

Meccage spent the last two seasons as the pitching coach for the Pirates' New York-Penn League team in

State College, Pa., and Varela was the hitting coach with the franchise's low Single-A team in West Virginia.

The Marauders open the 2013 season 7:05 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at Fort Myers. Their home opener is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, also against Fort Myers.

Noteworthy

The Maurauders also announced that group tickets, club memberships and premium packages will go on sale Monday. Season tickets already are on sale.

Group ticket pricing is available for groups of 10 or more at $5 per person. Premium Games Packages include tickets to all Friday, Saturday and Sunday home games for $125. There are 32 games in that package.

To order group tickets, season tickets, Premium Game Packages or to find out about club memberships, call 941-747-3031.