Pirates Pep Rally Set For Saturday Night

Baseball is back in Bradenton, and fans can celebrate Saturday evening at a Pittsburgh Pirates and Bradenton Marauders .

The free event will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday in downtown Bradenton, on Old Main Street (12th Street West). It will feature appearances and autograph sessions by Pirates players, including Steve Pearce, Garrett Jones, Daniel McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf, James McDonald, Jeff Karstens, Chris Snyder, Joel Hanrahan, Charlie Morton and more. 

Fans will also have the opportunity to hear from the club’s new manager, Clint Hurdle; team president Frank Coonelly; and Pirates great Steve Blass.

There will also be prizes, face painting and other fun family activities.

"We're excited for baseball season to be here," said Trever Gooby, the Pirates' senior director of Florida operations, in a news release.  "This is a great event for fans to catch that fever with us and come on out and see the Pirates up close and meet their favorite players."

The second annual pep rally is presented in part with Realize Bradenton.

Pirates will hold their first full-squad workout Saturday morning in preparation for the Grapefruit League season, which kicks off Feb. 25 with an exhibition against the State College of Florida.

For more information, check out Bradenton Patch's in Bradenton.