Pelicans Announce 2023 Roster

Click here to view the 2023 roster

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, have unveiled their roster for the 2023 season. The 31-man group includes 17 pitchers, three catchers, seven infielders, and four outfielders. 20 former Pelicans will return to Pelicans Ballpark to begin the 2023 season.

Buddy Bailey returns to the Pelicans as the manager for his sixth season after leading the club from 2016-18 and 2021-22. During his time in Myrtle Beach, Bailey has won four half-season Southern Division Championship titles, one Southern Division Championship title, and the Carolina League Championship in 2016. Bailey has also tallied 2,280 career regular-season victories, a number that stands fourth place all-time among minor league managers. Last year, Bailey led the Pelicans to their first playoff appearance since 2017 after claiming the Carolina League South Division first-half title. This year will mark Bailey’s 35th season as a minor league manager.

Highlighting the Pelicans roster is right-handed pitcher Cade Horton, the Cubs’ first-round selection in the 2022 MLB draft. Horton was selected with the seventh overall pick in last year’s draft after a breakout season at Oklahoma as a redshirt freshman. The 21-year-old starter posted a 4.86 ERA with 64 strikeouts through 53 2/3 innings last year, while also collecting 34 hits at the plate. Horton rose of the draft boards following his dominant two starts in Omaha at the College World Series. The Norman, Oklahoma native struck out 11 batters through six innings against Notre Dame and followed that up with a 13-strikeout game in the College World Series Championship series against Ole Miss. The 13 strikeouts were the most in a Men’s College World Series Championship series game.

The Pelicans will also welcome Cubs’ No. 10 prospect Cristian Hernandez to Myrtle Beach for his full-season debut. The 19-year-old shortstop was signed as an international free agent in 2021 and played in the Dominican Summer League later that year, posting a .285 batting average through 47 games. Hernandez made his stateside debut in the Arizona Complex League in the 2022 season, playing 44 games and hitting .261 while seeing time at shortstop, second base, and designated hitter.

After playing 31 games for the Pelicans at the end of the 2022 season, catcher Moises Ballesteros returns to the beach as the Cubs’ No. 20 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Along with Hernandez, Ballesteros was also an international free agent signing in 2021 and will enter 2023 as a 19-year-old. The Los Teques, Venezuela native hit .248 last year with the Birds while hitting three home runs, with the first one coming in his first at-bat.

Another young prospect making his return to Pelicans Ballpark will be infielder Pedro Ramirez. The 19-year-old enters 2023 as the Cubs’ No. 22 prospect by MLB Pipeline after appearing in 10 games at the tail end of the 2022 season. The Temblador, Venezuela native struck out just six times in his first 41 Single-A at-bats last year and stole four bases while also earning a start in the Birds’ first playoff game against Charleston.

“We are looking forward to having this group in Myrtle Beach for the 2023 season,” said Pelicans President Ryan Moore. “Fans will love watching the talent of these young prospects as the future of the Chicago Cubs develops right here on the Grand Strand.”

The Pelicans’ 2023 season opens at home on April 6 against the Charleston RiverDogs. Game time on Opening Night is 7:05 PM and gates open at 5:30 PM. Season memberships as well as single-game tickets are available now. For more information, visit MyrtleBeachPelicans.com, call (843) 918-6000, or visit the Box Office at Pelicans Ballpark.