Steve Pearce Joins Marauders

Working his way back from a calf strain, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Steve Pearce will join the Marauders this week on Major League rehab. His assignment to Bradenton begins with Sunday's game against the Lakeland Flying Tigers.

Pearce has not played since sustaining the injury May 28th. In 28 games this year Pearce is batting .291 with a homerun and 10 RBI. He was a member of the Pirates' 2011 Opening Day roster.

A native of Lakeland, Pearce becomes the second Lakeland High School product to play for the Marauders this season, joining centerfielder Evan Chambers.

Pearce becomes the second MLB player to rehab twice with Bradenton. Joe Beimel completed his second stint with the team last week after opening the year with Bradenton. Pearce played two games with the M's in his return from an ankle injury last year. He collected three hits, including two doubles, and two RBI in his stint. He last appeared as a class A-Advanced player in 2007 prior to that. That same season saw Pearce skyrocket from an A-ball player to a Major League rookie by September. He was named the organization's Minor League Player of the Year.

-Marauders-