Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Founded in 1980 Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Team Logo Cap Insignia
Class-level
Advanced-A (1999–present)
Minor league affiliations
Carolina League (1999–present) Southern Division
Major league affiliations
Texas Rangers (2011–present) Atlanta Braves (1999–2010)
Name
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1999–present) Danville 97s (1998) Durham Bulls (1980–1997)
Ballpark
BB&T Coastal Field (1999–present) American Legion Field (1998) Durham Bulls Athletic Park (1995–1997) Durham Athletic Park (1980–1994)
Minor league titles
League titles	1999*, 2000
Division titles	1999, 2000, 2008
*co-champions with Wilmington
Owner(s)/Operated by: Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan
Manager: Jason Wood
General Manager: Scott Brown

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a minor league baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are a Class A Advanced team in the Carolina League and the franchise is currently the farm team of the Texas Rangers. From their inaugural season until 2010, the Pelicans were an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The Pelicans play home games at BB&T Coastal Field, which opened in 1999 and seats up to 6,600 fans.

Team history

Previously, this franchise was known as the Durham Bulls, which relocated following the 1997 season as a result of the expansion of the AAA International League into Durham, North Carolina and the assumption of the "Bulls" name by the new franchise. It spent the 1998 season in Danville, Virginia as the 97s while awaiting a move to Myrtle Beach as their new stadium, Coastal Federal Field, was still under construction.

In 1999, the team advanced to the 1999 Carolina League Mills Cup Championship series. The series, against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, was tied, 2–2, with Game 5 of 5 set for Myrtle Beach when the series was cancelled because of Hurricane Floyd.

The Pelicans play their home games at BB&T Coastal Field, a family friendly ballpark with a Speed Pitch, Obstacle Course, and Moon Bounce on the concourse. In 2004, Baseball America rated Coastal Federal Field as the #2 Class-A level ballpark in the United States. The current manager of the Pelicans is former big leaguer Jason Wood.

In early 2006, Capitol Broadcasting Company announced plans to sell the Pelicans. The current owner is Myrtle Beach Pelicans LP, a group led by lawyer Chuck Greenberg.^[1]

Myrtle Beach won both the first and second-half Southern Division titles in 2008 under Rocket Wheeler, who was named Carolina League Manager of the Year. The following season, current Atlanta Braves RF Jason Heyward played over half the year in Myrtle Beach en route to being named Baseball America's 2009 Minor League Player of the Year.

Notable former players

• Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers shortstop
• Joey Devine, Oakland Athletics relief pitcher
• Jeff Francoeur, Kansas City Royals outfielder
• Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves first baseman
• Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop
• Marcus Giles, All Star second baseman
• Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher
• Matt Harrison, Texas Rangers starting pitcher
• Jason Heyward, Atlanta Braves outfielder
• Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves relief pitcher
• Adam LaRoche, Washington Nationals first baseman
• Jason Marquis, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher
• Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves catcher
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Boston Red Sox catcher
• Adam Stern, Major League Baseball outfielder
• Jonny Venters, Atlanta Braves relief pitcher
• Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher

Roster

Myrtle Beach Pelicans rosterview · talk · edit
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 19 Chad Bell 29 Wilfredo Boscan 16 Miguel De Los Santos * 30 Kennil Gomez 27 Justin Grimm 12 Trevor Hurley 14 Ryan Kelly 22 Kasey Kiker 38 Colby Killian 50 Barret Loux 24 Joseph Ortiz 45 Zach Osborne 13 Jimmy Reyes 39 Ryan Rodebaugh 25 Matthew West 55 Kenny Powers		Catchers 23 Vincent DiFazio 17 Zach Zaneski Infielders  4 Santiago Chirino 25 Andrew Clark  3 Leury Garcia  1 Andres James 32 Chris McGuiness  9 Michael Olt Outfielders  5 Travis Adair 10 Jared Hoying 18 Jared Prince  6 Ryan Strausborger		Manager 40 Jason Wood Coaches 33 Julio Garcia (hitting) 21 Brad Holman (pitching) 7-day disabled list * On Texas Rangers 40-man roster ∞ Reserve list § Suspended list ‡ Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated September 18, 2011 Transactions → More rosters

See also

• Current and former players

External links

• Myrtle Beach Pelicans official website

References

1. ^ "Chuck Greenberg: Chairman & Managing Partner". Myrtle Beach Pelicans. http://www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com/contact/officestaff/index.html?staff_id=1. Retrieved January 24, 2010. "Chuck Greenberg assumed the role of President & Managing Partner of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on May 31, 2006 after his ownership group purchased the club from Capitol Broadcasting Company. On January 14, 2009 Chuck assumed the role of Chairman & Managing Partner when the organization announced Todd Parnell as President."