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CarL1 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Game Notes: April 2, vs. Charleston

April 2, 2019 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


The Myrtle Beach Pelicans host the Charleston RiverDogs (Low-A affiliate of the New York Yankees) in Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. contest. This Battle of the Beaches exhibition game features RHP Erling Moreno (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who starts for the Birds against RHP Luis Medina (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Radio coverage begins at 6:15 p.m. on MyrtleBeachPelicans.com/Broadcast, TuneIn and the MiLB First Pitch app.

FUTURE YANKEES AND FUTURE CUBS ON THE BEACH

Before the season gets underway, the Pelicans host the Low-A Charleston RiverDogs, an affiliate of the New York Yankees from the South Atlantic League in an exhibition game, the Battle of the Beaches. This marks the first time that the RiverDogs will travel to the Grand Strand after the 2017 scheduled game was canceled due to inclement weather. In 2018, Myrtle Beach downed Charleston 6-4 in the Holy City, while the 2016 Battle of the Beaches went to the Pelicans as well, 2-0.

BRINGING IN THE BIG GUNS

A new year means many new players in the Pelicans' clubhouse, and this year, there are some big-time prospects

on the squad. The Opening Day roster features six top prospects (according to the Cubs Top 30 Prospect Rankings from Baseball America). Catcher Miguel Amaya (No. 2 in Baseball America, No. 1 on MLB.com) leads the pack while shortstop Aramis Ademan (No. 10 in Baseball America, No. 6 on MLB.com) isn't far behind as he returns for his second year in Myrtle Beach. RHP Paul Richan (No. 7 in Baseball America, No. 18 on MLB.com) and RHP Alex Lange (No. 14 in Baseball America, No. 12 on MLB.com) are the two prospects on the bump for the Birds. While they don't come in on MLB.com, outfielders D.J. Wilson (No. 25 in Baseball America) and Jimmy Herron (No. 27 in Baseball America) round out the list for Myrtle Beach.

FAMILIAR FACES IN THE SAME PLACES

The Birds welcome in 12 holdovers from prior years back to Myrtle Beach for Opening Day. LHP Ryan Kellogg is back for his third season on the Grand Strand, while infielder Carlos Sepulveda returns after spending 28 games in Myrtle Beach in 2017 and missing the 2018 season with a right arm injury. On the mound, starters Alex Lange and Bryan Hudson are in baby blue again and relievers Garrett Kelly and Tyler Peyton give some depth to a young bullpen. On the infield, Wladimir Galindo, Aramis Ademan and Yeiler Peguero are all back, while the outfield features a trio of recognizable faces in Kevonte Mitchell, D.J. Wilson and Zach Davis.

WELCOME TO THE STEVE LERUD SHOW

After Buddy Bailey held the skipper role for the Birds over the last three seasons, Steve Lerud takes over at the helm in 2019. The new manager offers an interesting juxtaposition from the old, as Bailey is the active winningest manager in the MiLB, while Lerud enters just his second season managing in the minors. Though his first season with short season Low A Eugene ended in a 31-45 (.408) regular season in 2018, the Emeralds blasted through postseason play to win the Northwest League Championship on a walk-off balk. The 34-year-old played in the minor leagues for 13 seasons as a catcher and played nine games for the Phillies between 2012 and 2013. Along the way, he played in Lynchburg in 2007 and 2008.

THE 2018 BATS WERE ASLEEP...

As a new seasons starts, the Pelicans look to rebound from one of their worst offensive seasons in franchise history. The Birds set nine new franchise lows offensively, including batting average (.232), hits (1,013), runs (568), at-bats (4,360), total bases (1,393), doubles (173), home runs (55), extra base hits (249) and RBIs (409). The lack of power was particularly alarming, shattering the previous franchise low in homers (64 in 2013) by nine home runs. Their 55 blasts were the fewest home runs hit by a Carolina League team since the 2016 Salem Red Sox hit 51.

...BUT THE ARMS WERE AWAKE

While the offense struggled in 2018, the pitching staff was brilliant. Led by season-long mainstays Tyson Miller (3.54 ERA, 5th in the Carolina League) and Alex Lange (3.74 ERA, 6th), the starting staff kept the Pelicans in most games with a 3.70 ERA. The bullpen, paced by Mid-Season All-Star Tyler Peyton (3-6, 3.07 ERA in 38 appearances out of the bullpen) owned a stellar 3.20 ERA on the season. The Birds' 3.51 team ERA ranked third in the circuit, trailing the Buies Creek Astros (now Fayetteville Woodpeckers) and the Potomac Nationals. The Pelicans went 16-20 in shutout games on the season.

PELICAN POINTS

Myrtle Beach is 9-5 on Opening Day in recorded club history (dating back to 2005) and 3-1 as a Cubs affiliate. Since joining with Chicago in 2015, the Birds are 1-1-2 in the Opening Series, with a total record of 8-8 against their first opponent in the opening tilt.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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