CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Caratini Earns Team's Second Straight Player of the Week Award

Published on August 31, 2015 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AUGUST 31, 2015) -- In conjunction with Minor League Baseball, the Carolina League announced its Players of the Week on Monday, naming Myrtle Beach Pelicans catcher Victor Caratini the winner for the week of August 24-30.

Caratini, 22, played in four of the Pelicans five games during the week, picking up at least one hit in each contest, two or more in three, and three hits on Friday, August 28, against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The Puerto Rican backstop led the circuit in batting average, hitting .500 (8-for-16) with four extra-base hits, including three doubles and his first triple of the season. He scored two runs and also drove one in.

During the week Caratini caught twice, played first base once, and served as the designated hitter in one game.

For the season, Caratini is batting .255 in 106 contests with four home runs and 50 RBI. Hes clubbed a career-high 28 doubles along with one triple. The switch-hitter has improved his patience in 2015, walking a career-high 45 times. He has struck out 71 times. A former Braves farmhand, Caratini has played primarily behind the plate, catching in 83 games, but he's also manned first base in 11 games and DH'd in 12 other contests.

Caratini was originally acquired by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the MLB June Amateur Draft in 2013. The Cubs picked up Caratini in a trade deadline deal last season in exchange for Emilio Bonifacio, James Russell, and cash considerations.

Four other Pelicans hitters have been named Offensive Player of the Week this season, including Ben Carhart last week, Mark Zagunis, Kevin Brown, and Billy McKinney. Zagunis was also named Cubs Minor League Player of the Month for June.

Jonathan Martinez and Tyler Skulina are the only two Pelicans hurlers to win Carolina League Pitcher of the Week awards. Brad Markey was named the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July.

The Pelicans had a player named Offensive Player of the Week six times last season (Joey Gallo, three times; Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro, Ryan Cordell).

As a team, more Pelicans players have won weekly awards than any other Cubs affiliate. Caratini is the fifth Pelicans player to win the hitter's award this year and the eighteenth Cubs player to win a weekly award.

Other Players of the Week in the Cubs system are: Ryan Williams (Southern League, August 10-16); Erick Leal (Midwest League, August 3-9); Wilson Contreras (SOU, July 27-August 2); Adbert Alzolay (Northwest League, July 27-August 2); Jeffrey Baez (MID, July 13-19); Christian Villanueva (Pacific Coast League, June 1-7 and July 13-19); Yasiel Balaguert (MID, May 25-31); Dan Vogelbach (SOU, April 9-19 and April 20-26); Cael Brockmeyer (MID, April 9-19).

Frederick Keys right-hander David Hess was named the Pitcher of the Week in the Carolina League.

The Birds are back in action on Tuesday night in Woodbridge, Virginia, to take on the Potomac Nationals, with the first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. ET.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail info@myrtlebeachpelicans.com, or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

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Carolina League Stories from August 31, 2015


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