Holy cow, that’s the crack of a bat whacking a ball and the roar of a crowd on Ninth Street West in Bradenton.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are back on the field at LECOM Park.
Spring training opened with a flurry of promotional events at LECOM and Pirate City, as well as other venues, including a community block party on Old Main in Bradenton Feb. 15 and a Manatee Chamber of Commerce luncheon Feb. 12 at Bradenton’s Pier 22.
The Pirates’ first game of the season was Feb. 22 against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota and the first home game was Feb. 23 against the Minnesota Twins.
The team, one of 15 in the Florida Grapefruit League, finished in last place in the National League Central in 2024 with a record of 76-86. But Pirates president Travis Williams, addressing the chamber luncheon, said, “Energy is high and so is our players’ belief in this team and their expectations for themselves. They know … this group has what it takes to win. They just need to execute and they have been working hard in the offseason to be prepared to come to spring training and start that journey.”
Williams said the Pirates’ “Southern home” is a vital location in their journey toward October play.
It’s also a tourist draw. LECOM, formerly known as McKechnie Field and one of the oldest active spring training facilities in Major League Baseball, has been home to the Pirates since 1969.
“You hear so many wonderful stories of fans who have made the move from Pittsburgh to Bradenton year-round or who schedule their family vacations around spring training over the years,” Williams said. He added, “It’s amazing to me how many people plan their lives around Pirates baseball and the city of Bradenton.”
Locals also make plans around spring training and catching at least one game in March.
“It gets all my sports attention,” said Kris Thackery of Bradenton Beach, who attended the block party with her three school-age kids.
“My March Madness is spring training,” said baseball enthusiast Robert Cruz of Holmes Beach, who became a Pirates fan upon a move to the area in 2008. “I usually get to five, six games.”
There’s still a lot of baseball left before MLB’s opening day. And, when the regular season arrives and the Pirates head home to Pittsburgh, LECOM welcomes the Marauders and a full season of Minor League ball.
Find more information
For more spring training in Bradenton, go to pirates.com/springtraining.
For information about the Bradenton Marauders, a Minor League affiliate of the Pirates, go to bradentonmarauders.com.