Bulls News: 2023 Season in Review: Myrtle Beach Pelicans |
2023 was some deja vcu for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. For the second straight season, the Pelicans dominated the competition during the first half to claim the first-half title before falling off a bit in the second half. However, unlike last season, where they were under .500 after the first half, the Pelicans were much more competitive during the second half in 2023 and landed in second place behind Charleston.
Those two met in the playoffs for the second consecutive season, and once again, it was the Riverdogs taking the victory as the Pelicans can't seem to get over that hump. This team finished with a 75-55 overall record, the best record in the Cubs Minor League system percentage-wise, and the best record overall in the Carolina League. For a team to have that kind of record, you know you are getting production from the top down, and the Pelicans had plenty of production across the board. While their offense was the best in the league during the second half, the pitching carried them in the first half, which bodes well for the Cubs future. Guys like Brody McCullough, Nick Hull, and Grant Kipp played a considerable role in the team's overall success but were promoted during the second half, opening the door for new faces to be the leaders. Jackson Ferris was one of those guys who emerged as the Ace of this staff and never looked back. The 2022 second-round pick from IMG Academy in Florida made 18 starts for the Pelicans in 2023, compiling a 2-3 record, but a 3.38 ERA in 56 innings, striking out 77 over those innings. Ferris was also pitching the best he ever has down the stretch, which included a six-strikeout performance against the Riverdogs in the playoffs.
Speaking of IMG, his former high school teammate Drew Gray was returning from an injury this season and finally started to show the Cubs his potential on the mound. Although not as good, going 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA across 14 starts, Gray was pitching his best the final two weeks of the season, including an excellent playoff start, as he will have plenty of momentum going into 2024.
Fellow Lefty Marino Santy had a breakthrough season in 2023, posting a 3.12 ERA across 16 starts, with Kevin Valdez adding a 3.11 ERA over his 13 starts as the starting pitching was top-notch from start to finish. Another pitcher overlooked this season was right-hander Michael Arias, who showed plenty of growth this season.
Sure, looking at his 1-10 record and 4.09 ERA, you can see why he was overlooked, but he was dominant, with Myrtle Beach going 1-4 across 11 starts while posting a team-best 2.55 ERA. He is the definition of how wins don't matter, as he sometimes made hitters look silly.
The pitching may have been the more consistent aspect of this team all season, but the hitting carried them the final month of the season, and that will be important with some of these guys going to South Bend next season. When 2023 began, all eyes were on the 18-year-old SS Cristian Hernandez as he was embarking on his first-ever year in full-season ball.
Expected to go through some struggles, Hernandez endured plenty of them, but still found a way to battle back and put together a fairly strong season. His .223 average may not show it, nor will his four homers, but with 48 RBIs and 27 steals, he showed the Cubs plenty of flashes of why he is such a highly regarded prospect.
Hernandez wasn't alone this season as Reivaj Garcia and Pedro Ramirez provided some much-needed offense, with Garcia leading the team with a .306 average, but it was the sudden emergence of Jefferson Rojas that stood out this year.
An unknown heading into the season, Rojas is no longer an unknown, but could top Top 20 prospect status before too long. The 18-year-old infielder hit .265 for the season, but also managed to hit seven homers and drive in 31, all while playing great defense. He was one of the guys you wanted at the plate in clutch situations, and more often than not, he came through.
Speaking of clutch, Andy Garriola was clutch all season and was one of the team's better RBI guys all season. A late-round pick in 2022 from Old Dominion, Garriola proved his worth this season as he hit .225, but cranked 12 homers while driving in a team-high 60. His season was similar to the one Matt Mervis had in 2021, so seeing how he advances through the system will be interesting.
One of the best things about Low-A ball is the second half of the season, as you start to see guys from the ACL team get moved up. Many of those players are on rehab stints, but there are cases where rookies get moved through quickly, which was the case this season. Brett Bateman, Johnathan Long, and Brian Kalmer were all drafted by the Cubs in July and reached the Pelicans by August.
Kalmer is the one to take note of here, as he will be the biggest mystery for the Cubs system going forward. An 18th-round pick out of Gonzaga, Kalmer hit .357 in just two months in the minor leagues while also cranking 10 homers and driving in 42. He also took home the Carolina Player of the Month Honors for August, hitting nearly .380 that month with eight homers and 25 RBIs. He has the potential to be a star in this league, so look for the Cubs to challenge him a lot more next season.
