August 27, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft Prior to the Pelicans’ series in Charleston, 2024 Cubs’ first-round pick Cam Smith had struggled in his first few games of professional baseball. He collected just four hits in his first 26 at-bats, with 10 strikeouts. “You’ve got to think a little bit more,”...

August 13, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft Coming into this year, Juan Bello was a relatively unknown pitcher in the Chicago Cubs’ system. Originally from Colombia, Bello was signed as an international free agent in 2022. He made his debut that year in the Dominican Summer League, pitching nine games and...

July 23, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft “As a UDFA, you’re not really sure if you belong when you first get out here.” After not being selected in the 2023 MLB Draft, Kenten Egbert was working behind a cash register when he received a call from the Cubs. That phone call...

July 9, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft The road to The Beach has been windy, but not long for Nazier Mulé. The 19-year-old was drafted in the fourth out of high school in 2022 but had to wait a full season before making his Cubs’ affiliate debut. The two-way star was...

July 1, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft 2024 started without a familiar face at the beach. Miguel Pabon, who played 83 games for the Pelicans in 2023, was not called during player introductions on Opening Night. After dealing with an injury during spring training, Pabon stayed in Arizona at the Cubs’...

June 25, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft After a stellar college season in 2023, Nico Zeglin was ready for his opportunity to play professional baseball with an MLB organization. He had just been named the 2023 Big West Pitcher of the Year with Long Beach State and expected a chance. That...

June 11, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft “It’s been a blessing to finally get back on the field.” After being selected in the 14th round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs, Shane Marshall had to wait to put the uniform on. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August...

Tuesday, May 28 by Sam Weiderhaft At 16 years old, Alfonsin Rosario moved away from his native Dominican Republic to play baseball in the United States. From there, he developed into one of the top high school prospects in the country. Now, he’s showcasing that at the professional level. “It...

May 14, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft For the last two seasons, the Pelicans have been one of the best power-hitting teams in the Carolina League. In 2023, they led the league with 104 homers. This season, their 20 dingers currently rank fourth. A big reason for that is power-hitter Andy...

May 7, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft Heading into the 2024 season, Chris Paciolla had minimal exposure to professional baseball. The high school draft pick was taken in the third round of the 2022 draft by the Chicago Cubs and played just seven games in the Arizona Complex League during the...

April 16, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft Being a professional comes with challenges. Increased competition, adjusting to new routines, and playing with a new organization. For Carter Trice, those challenges have been increased with an adjustment to an entirely new position. Trice was drafted in the 12th round of the 2023...

(Sorted alphabetically) PITCHERS

#20 Juan Bello: The 19-year-old pitched in the Arizona Complex League last season in four games with three starts. Bello threw just 4 1/3 innings last year, but tossed 31 1/3 innings in 2022 in the Dominican Summer League, with an ERA of 4.02, being used mainly...

March 28, 2024 by Sam Weiderhaft Experiencing spring training has become my favorite annual tradition. Reconnecting with old friends and catching up with the players who have established themselves in the Cubs’ organization always makes for a fulfilling trip. For the second year in a row, Hunter Horenstein and I...

September 5, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft At the Single-A level, plate discipline is hard to come by. With this being the first stop for many players in professional baseball, seeing the advanced levels of pitching typically calls for adjustments for young hitters. For Brett Bateman, it hasn’t changed a thing....

August 22, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft August is a busy month in Single-A. After the draft concludes in July, players will typically spend some time at the complex in Arizona before being sent to an affiliate. Going from college, to the draft, to professional baseball in the span of two...

August 8, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft At just 16 years old, Reivaj Garcia took the field for the Arizona Complex League Cubs in 2018. He was the youngest player in all of Minor League Baseball at the time. He held a batting average over .300 in the 40 games he...

July 18, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft Not many players, especially international signings, get the call up to Myrtle Beach without getting a good amount of playing experience in the United States. For Jefferson Rojas, it was just one game in the Arizona Complex League before joining the Pelicans on June...

July 13, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft At the Single-A level of Minor League Baseball, the presence of certain roles within a pitching staff is often limited. Typically, in a Major League setting, there are starters, setup pitchers, long relievers, middle relievers, and closers. Organizations are still trying to find those...

June 27, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft The summer of 2022 will always be remembered by Grant Kipp. There were three big life events that happened. One, he graduated from Yale, one of the United States’ premier academic institutions. Two, he got the opportunity to pitch in the Cape Cod Baseball...

May 16, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft There’s not a ton of flash when Nick Hull takes the mound for the Pelicans. The right-hander provides a consistent pitch mix, great command skills, and an even-keeled attitude on the mound. And he’s getting results. The seventh-round selection by the Cubs last year...

May 8, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft “He’s really, really strong.” That’s what Pelicans hitting coach Roberto Vaz said about the 2019 International Free Agent signing out of Cuba, Felix Stevens. “It’s not surprising how hard he can hit the ball.” Stevens has spent bits of the last three seasons in...

April 18, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft It was days before the start of the 2022 season. Christian Franklin had just come off his first taste of professional baseball, playing 20 games at the tail end of the 2021 season with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans after being drafted by the Cubs...

April 11, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft “Hey, that was a lot of fun, do you guys have more events?” That was a message that broadcaster Tyler Maun sent to the WBSC (World Baseball Softball Confederation) a year after broadcasting the Premier 12 baseball tournament in 2015. Two weeks later, he...

By Sam Weiderhaft (Sorted alphabetically) PITCHERS

#19 Jack Aldrich: A 2021 draft pick by the Kansas City Royals, Aldrich was signed as a free agent by the Cubs in 2023. He pitched in 23 games out of the bullpen for the Single-A Columbia Fireflies in 2022, including two at Pelicans...

March 22, 2023 by Sam Weiderhaft I had never been to MLB Spring Training. I’ve been a baseball fan my whole life and had always dreamt of making a trip to Arizona to see the stars of the game prepare for their seasons. When the Pelicans asked Hunter Horenstein and...