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 Ballpark. The Oak Park, California native was drafted by the Royals in the 20^th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.

To view Jack’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#6 Michael Arias: The 21-year-old right hander was originally signed as an infielder by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 out of the Dominican Republic. Arias was signed as a free agent by the Cubs in 2021 and pitched in two games for the Pelicans at the end of the 2022 season.

To view Michael’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#33 Yovanny Cabrera: The right-handed reliever was promoted to the Pelicans in July of 2022 and pitched in 10 games with the Birds last year. He had a great month of August, not allowing a single run through 4 games and 6 1/3 innings. The Dominican Republic native was signed as an international free agent by the Cubs in 2019.

To view Yovanny’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#27 Angel Gonzalez: Another member of the 2022 Pelicans bullpen, Gonzalez threw in 25 games for Myrtle Beach last year. He posted a 1-2 record with a 5.29 ERA with the Birds last season. Originally from Puerto Rico, Gonzalez was an international free agent signing by the Cubs in 2020.

To view Angel’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#21 Saul Gonzalez: After being to the Cubs in a trade last season that sent MLB reliever Mychal Givens to the New York Mets, Gonzalez came straight to Myrtle Beach and for seven appearances. The 2018 23^rd-rounder held a 3.63 ERA with the Pelicans with just over 17 innings of work. The 23-year-old was born in Puerto Rico and stands at 6’7.

To view Saul’s profile on North Side Bound, click here.

#56 Angel Hernandez: Hernandez threw in 21 games out of the bullpen with the Birds last year, going 4-3 with a pair of saves. The lefty was involved in the Pelicans’ second combined no-hitter of 2022 on July 17^th against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers, throwing one inning. The Dominican Republic native was signed as an international free agent by the Cubs in 2020.

To view Angel’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#9 Cade Horton: The seventh overall pick in the 2022 MLB draft, Horton was first round selection of the Cubs out of Oklahoma. He broke on to the scene during the Sooners’ College World Series run, striking out 24 batters through 13 1/3 innings in his two starts. Horton is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and will make his full-season Cubs organization debut with the Pelicans.

To view Cade’s profile on MLB.com, click here.

#51 Nick Hull: The former pitcher at Grand Canyon was a member of the 2022 draft class, being drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago Cubs. He made his full season debut with the Pelicans and started three games at the end of 2022. The Edmonds, Washington native returns to the Pelicans at 23-year-old.

To view Nick’s profile on North Side Bound, click here.

#16 Grant Kipp: After pitching at Yale for three seasons, Kipp was signed as a free agent by the Cubs in August of last year. The 23-year-old started five games for the Pelicans and also took the mound for the first game of the playoffs against Charleston.

To view Grant’s profile on North Side Bound, click here.

#30 Brody McCullough: The highest pick in Wingate’s history as an NCAA Division II school, McCullough was taken in the 10^th round of last year’s MLB draft by the Cubs. The Lexington, NC native threw in four games for Myrtle Beach out of the bullpen at the end of 2022, allowing just one run through five innings.

To view Brody's MiLB.com page, click here.

#15 Koen Moreno: Drafted out of high school in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB draft, Moreno made his full-season debut with the Pelicans last year. The 21-year-old started in five games and came out of the bullpen for two more.

To view Koen’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#53 Branden Noriega: The native of Miami, FL was drafted last year in the 11^th round of last year’s MLB draft. He popped on the map after throwing in the mid-90s in the MLB draft league last year.

To view Brande’s profile on North Side Bound, click here.

#52 Johzan Oquendo: The reliever from Puerto Rico took on a bulk of innings out of the bullpen for the Pelicans in 2022. Oquendo went 3-2 with a 4.94 ERA through 58 1/3 innings last season, while collecting three saves. The 22-year-old was drafted in the 16^th round of the 2019 MLB draft.

To view Johzan’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#40 Erian Rodriguez: Rodriguez was drafted by the Cubs in 2021 after playing high school baseball in Georgia. The 21-year-old threw in 11 games in the Arizona Complex League last year and willmake his full-season debut in Myrtle Beach.

To view Erian’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#45 Jose Romero: The right-handed reliever had a solid season in the Arizona Complex League last year, with a 2.01 ERA through 22 1/3 innings with 29 strikeouts. The Venezuela native earned a promotion to Myrtle Beach at the end of July and threw in two games.

To view Jose’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#53 Marino Santy: The 2020 international free agent signing pitched in eight games with four starts in the Arizona Complex League last year with a 3.45 ERA. The 21-year-old lefty will make his full season debut in Myrtle Beach.

To view Marino’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#35 Kevin Valdez: The right-handed starting pitcher threw in both the Dominican Summer League and the Arizona Complex League last year. His numbers in the DSL were impressive, with a 1.63 ERA through eight starts and 27 2/3 innings. Valdez will make his full-season debut in Myrtle Beach.

To view Kevin’s MiLB.com page, click here.

CATCHERS

#12 Moises Ballesteros: The 19-year-old made an impression with Myrtle Beach last season by hitting a home run to center field in his debut on August 2^nd. The Venezuela native played 31 games for the Birds in 2022, hitting .248 with three home runs. Ballesteros was signed as an international free agent in 2021.

To view Moises’ profile on MLB.com, click here.

#38 Miguel Fabrizio: After being named a 2021 Arizona Complex League all-star, Fabrizio played 21 games with Myrtle Beach in 2022. The 22-year-old catcher hit .372 in the Arizona Complex League in 2021.

To view Miguel’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#34 Malcom Quintero: Quintero will return to the Pelicans after playing 34 games with Myrtle Beach in 2022. The 22-year-old stood out during his time in the Dominican Summer League, hitting .320 through 40 games in the 2019 season. He followed that up with a .333 batting average through 39 games in the Arizona Complex League in 2021.

To view Malcom’s MiLB.com page, click here.

INFIELDERS

#22 Reivaj Garcia: The 21-year old has played parts of his last two seasons in a Pelicans uniform, playing nine games in 2021 and three games in 2022. Garcia played just 10 games in the Arizona Complex League last season after making stops at four different affiliates in 2021.

To view Reivaj’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#1 Cristian Hernandez: Ranked as the No. 10 Cubs prospect by MLB Pipeline, Hernandez made his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League last season, hitting .261 with three home runs. Hernandez will play the 2023 season at just 19 years old after being signed as an international free agent by the Cubs in 2021.

To view Cristian’s profile on MLB.com, click here.

#11 Rafael Morel: Morel enters Myrtle Beach after a solid 2022 season at the Arizona Complex League where he hit .278 through 39 games. The 21-year old will make his full-season debut after being signed as an international free agent by the Cubs in 2018.

To view Rafael’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#13 Miguel Pabon: After playing 30 games in the Arizona Complex League, Pabon joins the Pelicans as a 22-year-old infielder. The Puerto Rico native was drafted by the Cubs in the 34^th round of the 2018 MLB draft.

To view Miguel’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#3 Reginald Preciado: After being delt to the Cubs in December of 2020 in the trade that sent Yu Darvish to the Padres, Preciado played 46 games for the Pelicans last year at shortstop, second base, and designated hitter. The 19-year-old had an impressive month of May, hitting .284 with a pair of home runs.

To view Reginald’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#5 Pedro Ramirez: The newly turned 19-year-old will return to Myrtle Beach after receiving a late-season promotion in 2022. Ramirez played in 10 games with the Birds and collected 11 hits with four stolen bases. The Venezuela native turned heads in the Arizona Complex League in 2022 with a .329 batting average through 43 games.

To view Pedro’s profile on MLB.com, click here.

#55 Felix Stevens: Stevens was a staple of the 2022 Pelicans team, starting 50 games at first base. The 23-year-old smashed 11 home runs to rank third on the team. Originally out of Cuba, Stevens was signed as an international free agent by the Cubs in 2019.

To view Felix’s MiLB.com page, click here.

OUTFIELDERS

#24 Parker Chavers: Chavers returnes to Myrtle Beach after taking part in 35 games at the Single-A level in 2022. The 2021 seventh-rounder hit .244 with a pair of home runs in his time as a Pelican last season. Chavers was drafted out of Coastal Carolina University, about a 20 minute drive from Pelicans Ballpark.

To view Parker’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#8 Jefferson Encarnacion: Selected in the 2022 Rule 5 draft from the Phillies, Encarnacion will make his Cubs organization debut with Myrtle Beach. The outfielder has not played since 2019 in the Dominican Summer League.

To view Jefferson’s MiLB.com page, click here.

#25 Christian Franklin: Drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB draft out of Arkansas, Franklin played 20 games with Myrtle Beach during the 2021 season. The 23-year-old did not see action in 2022 and will return to the Pelicans after being a standout player for the Arkansas Razorbacks in college.

To view Christian's MiLB.com page, click here.

#17 Andy Garriola: After playing three seasons at Old Dominion, Garriola was selected in the 17^th round by the Cubs in the 2022 MLB Draft. The California native was a First-Team All-Conference USA selection in 2022 after hitting .322 with 25 home runs. Garriola holds the ODU program record with 49 career home runs.

To view Andy’s profile on North Side Bound, click here.