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A Deep Dive into the 2024 Pelicans Roster

April 10, 2024

(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

(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 as a starter. The right-hander was signed as an international free agent in 2022.

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

#12 Garrett Brown: A former pitcher at Georgia, Brown made his Myrtle Beach debut at the end of 2023 and appeared in four games with an ERA of 2.84 while collecting two saves. The 24-year-old was an 18th round draft pick in 2022 after pitching two seasons for the Bulldogs.

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

#33 Nick Dean: The former Maryland Terrapin will make his Cubs organization debut after being selected in the 19th round last year. Dean thrived as a starter for Maryland, with 219 strikeouts in 43 starts across four years. He was named Third Team All-Big Ten in 2022.

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

#19 Kenten Egbert: After pitching for Miami (OH) in college, the Ohio native was signed as an undrafted free agent in the summer of 2023. Egbert was named First Team All-MAC in 2023 after holding a 3.96 ERA in 15 games and 10 starts, striking out 90 batters while walking just 29.

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

#32 Dominic Hambley: The Canadian made a brief stop in Myrtle Beach last year before pitching most of the year in Arizona. The 20-year-old right-hander was drafted in the 18th round in 2021 and has appeared in 25 games in the Arizona Complex League over the last three seasons.

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

#21 Ty Johnson: Another college arm starting the year in Myrtle Beach, the former Ball State Cardinal was drafted in the 15th round by the Cubs in 2023. The tall right-hander lowered his ERA in each of his three years in Muncie, Indiana, finishing with a 4.53 ERA in 16 games in 2023.

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

#41 Scarlyn Lebron: A main piece in the Birds’ bullpen last year, the 22-year-old picked up two saves and pitched 23 games in relief in 2023. 2024 will be Lebron’s fourth year in the Cubs’ organization after being signed as a free agent in 2021.

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

#16 Shane Marshall: Another former pitcher at Georgia, Marshall was drafted in the 14th round of the 2022 draft. The right-hander has not made his professional debut and pitched just three games for the Bulldogs while mainly spending time as a catcher.

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

#48 Mason McGwire: The son of former MLB slugger Mark McGwire, Mason was taken in the eighth round of the 2022 draft by the Cubs. The 20-year-old righty was mainly used as a starter in the Arizona Complex League last season with 36 strikeouts across 35 1/3 innings.

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

#53 Branden Noriega: The native of Miami, FL was drafted in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB draft. He pitched in seven games for the Pelicans with one start in 2023 before finishing in the Arizona Complex League.

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

#52 Jack Patterson: After dealing with multiple injuries, Patterson will take the mound for the first time since 2019. The 2018 draft pick started five games for Myrtle Beach in the 2019 season before ending the year at Double A Tennessee.

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

#30 Kenyi Perez: A returning member of the 2023 Pelicans’ bullpen, Perez made 10 appearances last season while also posting a 1.00 ERA through five games in the Arizona Complex League. The 22-year-old was signed as an international free agent in 2020.

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

#57 Starlyn Pichardo: At just 19 years old, Pichardo made his Pelicans debut in 2023 and ended with a 7-1 record through 24 games out of the bullpen. The Dominican Republic native struck out 52 and walked just 29 through 40 innings last season. The right-hander was signed as an international free agent in 2021.

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

#49 Francis Reynoso: After starting his career as a first baseman in the Cardinals organization, the 21-year-old was signed as a free agent by the Cubs and converted to a pitcher last year. The Dominican Republic native posted a 2.20 ERA across 20 games in relief with just 15 walks and 42 strikeouts.

To view Francis’ MiLB.com page, click here.

#40 Erian Rodriguez: A main arm out of the bullpen for the Pelicans last year, the 13th round pick in 2021 appeared in 26 games with three starts last year. The native of Panama struck out 74 batters across 69 1/3 innings in a Pelicans uniform in 2023.

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

#53 Marino Santy: The strikeout leader for the Pelicans last season with 100 for the year, the 22-year-old returns after pitching 22 games with 16 starts in 2023. Santy was signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2020.

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

CATCHERS

#17 David Avitia: The Arizona native played 28 games for the Birds last year and caught 10 runners stealing. The 25-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

To view David’s profile on MiLB.com, click here.

#24 Wally Soto: The 21-year-old played 23 games in the Arizona Complex League last season and spent time at catcher, first base, and designated hitter. Soto made his Myrtle Beach debut in 2022, catching one inning. He was signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2020.

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

#34 Carter Trice: The highest pick in the 2023 draft class on the Pelicans’ 2024 Opening Day roster, Trice played last season at NC State before being drafted in the 12th round. Primarily an infielder in college, the Virginia native was converted to a catcher by the Cubs after being drafted.

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

INFIELDERS

#44 Drew Bowser: The 20th-round selection in the 2023 draft will make his full-season debut after experiencing three College World Series appearances with Stanford. The Los Angeles, CA native hit .295 through 13 games in the Arizona Complex League last season after being drafted.

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

#11 Alexis Hernandez: The younger Hernandez brother, Alexis impressed in the Arizona Complex League in 2023 by hitting .315 through 37 games. Hernandez enters 2024 as the Cubs’ No. 24 prospect by MLB Pipeline. The 19-year-old was signed as an international free agent in 2022 out of the Dominican Republic.

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

#1 Cristian Hernandez: Ranked as the No. 23 Cubs prospect by MLB Pipeline, Hernandez led the Pelicans in games played last year with 106. The Dominican Republic native spent time at both shortstop and second base in 2023. The 20-year-old was signed as an international free agent in 2021.

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

#5 Christopher Paciolla: Paciolla makes his full-season debut with the Pelicans this year after being selected in the third round out of high school in 2022. The former UCLA commit hit .260 with four home runs in the Arizona Complex League last year.

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

#7 Reginald Preciado: After dealing with injuries the last two years, the 20-year-old makes his return to Myrtle Beach after playing 73 games across 2022 and 2023. The native of Panama was dealt to the Cubs in the trade that sent Yu Darvish to the Padres in December of 2020.

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

OUTFIELDERS

#8 Jefferson Encarnacion: Selected in the 2022 Rule 5 draft from the Phillies, Encarnacion played 37 games for the Pelicans in 2023, with all but two being in right field. The 22-year-old finished the season in the Arizona Complex League, hitting .296 through 29 games.

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

#17 Andy Garriola: The 2022 draft pick returns after leading the Pelicans in RBI last year with 60. Myrtle Beach’s starting left fielder smashed 12 home runs with two being grand slams. Before being drafted, the California native played at Old Dominion, where he holds the program record with 49 career home runs.

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

#4 Christian Olivo: After getting a taste of Single-A with one game played for the Pelicans last year, the 2021 draft pick will take the field on Opening Night. Olivo played 34 games in the Arizona Complex League last season, hitting .264.

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

#22 Jacob Wetzel: A familiar face to Myrtle Beach fans, Wetzel played the entirety of the 2021 and 2022 seasons for the Pelicans before spending 2023 in High-A South Bend. The Maryland native has hit 18 career home runs with the Birds after being signed by the Cubs in 2020.

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