Myrtle Beach Pelicans

	Myrtle Beach Pelicans; Founded in 1980; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina;
; Team Logo	; Cap Insignia
	Class-level
	Advanced-A (1999-present);
	Minor league affiliations
	Carolina League (1999-present) Southern Division; ;
	Major league affiliations
	Atlanta Braves (1999-present);
	Name
	Myrtle Beach Pelicans (1999-present); Danville 97s (1998); Durham Bulls (1980-1997);
	Ballpark
	BB&T Coastal Field (1999-present); American Legion Field (1998); Durham Bulls Athletic Park (1995-1997); Durham Athletic Park (1980-1994);
	Minor league titles
League titles	1999*, 2000
Division titles	1999, 2000, 2008
	*co-champions with Wilmington
	Owner(s)/Operated by: Myrtle Beach Pelicans LP
	Manager: Rocket Wheeler
	General Manager: North Johnson

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The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a minor league baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are a Class A team in the Carolina League and the franchise has been a farm team of the Atlanta Braves since 1980. The Pelicans play home games at BB&T Coastal Field, which opened in 1999 and seats up to 6,000 fans. The Pelicans are the only team of the Atlanta Braves' affiliates that are not owned by the parent club, as well as the only affiliate who does not share the "Braves" mascot with the parent club.

[edit] Team history

Previously, this franchise was known as the Durham Bulls, which relocated following the 1997 season as a result of the expansion of the AAA International League into Durham, North Carolina and the assumption of the "Bulls" name by the new franchise. It spent the 1998 season in Danville, Virginia as the 97s while awaiting a move to Myrtle Beach as their new stadium, Coastal Federal Field, was still under construction.

In 1999, the team advanced to the 1999 Carolina League Mills Cup Championship series. The series, against the Wilmington Blue Rocks, was tied, 2-2, with Game 5 of 5 set for Myrtle Beach when the series was cancelled because of Hurricane Floyd.

The Pelicans play their home games at BB&T Coastal Field, a family friendly ballpark with a Speed Pitch, Obstacle Course, and Moon Bounce on the concourse. In 2004, Baseball America rated Coastal Federal Field as the #2 Class-A level ballpark in the United States. The current manager of the Pelicans is Rocket Wheeler.

In early 2006, Capitol Broadcasting Company announced plans to sell the Pelicans. The current owner is Myrtle Beach Pelicans LP, a group led by lawyer Chuck Greenberg.^[1]

The Pelicans set a team record as they drew 11,000 fans on June 16-17 2007. They are the only Braves affiliate without the name "Braves", as well as the only Braves affiliate not owned by their Major League Baseball counterpart.

Myrtle Beach won both the first and second Southern Division titles in 2008 under Rocket Wheeler, who was named Carolina League Manager of the Year.

[edit] Roster

Myrtle Beach Pelicans roster

Players

Coaches/Other

Pitchers

49 Eric Barrett
40 Brandon Beachy
38 Michael Broadway
14 Erik Cordier
36 Casey Hodges
33 Lee Hyde †
20 Michael Mehlich
22 Jose Ortegano
25 Thomas Palica
39 Benino Prueneda
23 Chad Rodgers †
32 Cole Rohrbough
29 Richard Sullivan
27 Jacob Thompson

Catchers

5 Benji Johnson
19 Matthew Kennelly

Infielders

24 Michael Fisher
28 Randy Gress
30 Donell Linares
4 Chad Lundahl
23 Jon Owings

Outfielders

17 Cody Johnson
31 C. J. Lee
1 Cole Miles
9 Stephen Shults

Manager

18 Rocket Wheeler

Coaches

16 Rich Albert (batting)
7 Guy Hansen (pitching)

† Disabled list
* On Atlanta Braves 40-man roster
∞ Reserve list
§ Suspended list
‡ Restricted list
# Rehab assignment
Roster updated 2009-06-18
Transactions