Marauders set record with nine All-Star selections, including Bradenton’s Seth McGarry

The 2017 Florida State League All-Star Game will be a record-breaking affair for the Bradenton Marauders.

The Pirates’ Class A Advanced affiliate is sending a franchise record nine players to the game in Lakeland, the league announced Thursday, making Bradenton the most represented club in the game. Five Marauders pitchers and four position players were named to the South division squad.

Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh’s top-ranked pitching prospect (No. 42 overall) according to MLB.com, is the highest-profile selection. The pitcher has a 2.93 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 40 innings. He is joined by FSL innings leader Dario Agrazal and relievers Jake Brentz, Yunior Montero and Seth McGarry. McGarry, who is a Lakewood Ranch High School alumnus, has shared time as the Marauders’ closer this year, posting a 1.27 ERA with 22 strikeouts and four saves in 15 appearances.

Agrazal is the only other All-Star pitcher ranked among the Pirates’ top 30 prospects. He is ranked 28th in the organization.

The group of hitters is highlighted by Cole Tucker, the No. 5 prospect in the organization who’s in his second season in Bradenton. The former shortstop was a first-round pick and has already tied the Marauders’ franchise record with 27 stolen bases this year. He’s joined by outfielder Casey Hughston, catcher Christian Kelley and outfielder Logan Hill, who leads the FSL in home runs, RBIs, runs and total bases.

Notable omissions from the star-studded Bradenton roster include third basemen Ke’Bryan Hayes and Will Craig, and pitchers Gage Hinsz and Taylor Hearn — all of whom are ranked among Pittsburgh’s top 15 prospects.

The nine players will not be the Marauders’ only representatives at the game: Manager Gera Alvarez and the rest of Bradenton’s coaching staff will manage the South by virtue of the team winning the division last season.

The All-Star Game will be played June 17 at Joker Marchant Stadium.

This story was originally published June 1, 2017 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Marauders set record with nine All-Star selections, including Bradenton’s Seth McGarry."