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Expected this to happen:
By Jeff Elliott
The Jacksonville Suns are expected to announce Sunday that they will extend their player development agreement with the Florida Marlins for another two years.
The Suns and Marlins are in the second year of their original agreement which was due to expire next month.
Jacksonville won the Southern League championship in 2009 and qualified for the playoffs this year after winning the South Division's first-half title.
Jim Fleming, Marlins vice president of player development and scouting and assistant general manager, confirmed that a new agreement had been reached.
"We've really enjoyed being here. It's a great organization, it has a great fan base and it's close to Miami," Fleming said. "The agreement with the Suns is everything we hoped it would be.
"We're just down the road from Jacksonville which makes it great for major league call-ups or rehab here. Plus it brings the Marlins to north Florida where people are going to get familiar with us. They're going to know Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison and others. It will build our fan base here in this area."
The Marlins have promoted seven players from Jacksonville to the major league roster the last two years. In 2009, four pitchers — Sean West, Graham Taylor, Chris Leroux and Cristhian Martinez — made an appearance with the Marlins.
This year, Stanton became the first Suns position player to be promoted to the big league club. He's since been joined by two other pitchers from the Suns roster this year, Alex Sanabia and Jhan Marinez.
"This was a no-brainer for the Jacksonville Suns," Suns president and general manager Peter Bragan Jr. said. "We're re-signing for two more years, but I hope we have a long relationship with the Marlins. When you look at that Marlins roster, it's already having a distinct Jacksonville flavor right now.
Twelve members of the Marlins' 40-man roster have played for the Suns either this season or last year.
The Jacksonville Suns are expected to announce Sunday that they will extend their player development agreement with the Florida Marlins for another two years.
The Suns and Marlins are in the second year of their original agreement which was due to expire next month.
Jacksonville won the Southern League championship in 2009 and qualified for the playoffs this year after winning the South Division's first-half title.
Jim Fleming, Marlins vice president of player development and scouting and assistant general manager, confirmed that a new agreement had been reached.
"We've really enjoyed being here. It's a great organization, it has a great fan base and it's close to Miami," Fleming said. "The agreement with the Suns is everything we hoped it would be.
"We're just down the road from Jacksonville which makes it great for major league call-ups or rehab here. Plus it brings the Marlins to north Florida where people are going to get familiar with us. They're going to know Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison and others. It will build our fan base here in this area."
The Marlins have promoted seven players from Jacksonville to the major league roster the last two years. In 2009, four pitchers — Sean West, Graham Taylor, Chris Leroux and Cristhian Martinez — made an appearance with the Marlins.
This year, Stanton became the first Suns position player to be promoted to the big league club. He's since been joined by two other pitchers from the Suns roster this year, Alex Sanabia and Jhan Marinez.
"This was a no-brainer for the Jacksonville Suns," Suns president and general manager Peter Bragan Jr. said. "We're re-signing for two more years, but I hope we have a long relationship with the Marlins. When you look at that Marlins roster, it's already having a distinct Jacksonville flavor right now.
Twelve members of the Marlins' 40-man roster have played for the Suns either this season or last year.
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