FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 19, 2001
Contact: Bryan Dolgin
843-918-6016
Big League Spring For Former Pelicans
MYRTLE BEACH, SC — As of January 18, there were 15 former Myrtle Beach Pelicans among the 56 players that have been invited to the Atlanta Braves Spring Training. The Pelicans have 10 former players on the Braves 40-man Major League roster and five more players are listed as non-roster invitees. There are three other Major League teams that feature a former Pelicans pitcher on their 40-man roster. The Pelicans have been in existence for just two seasons.
The 10 former Pelicans on the 40-man roster include 2000 National League Rookie of the Year Rafael Furcal (’99). Other players from the ’99 championship team that are on the 40-man roster include RHP Jason Marquis, RHP Scott Sobkowiak, RHP Derrick Lewis, RHP Winston Abreu and Second Baseman Marcus Giles. The players from the 2000 Pelicans championship team that are on the 40-man roster include LHP Horacio Ramirez, RHP Brad Voyles, RHP Billy Sylvester and Left Fielder Cory Aldridge.
The non-roster invitees include RHP Matt McClendon, RHP Christian Parra, Second Baseman Travis Wilson and First Baseman A.J. Zapp from the 2000 squad. Catcher Steve Torrealba played for the ’99 and ’00 Pelicans and he is a non-roster invitee, too.
There are three former Pelicans on other Major League 40-man rosters. RHP Luis Rivera is with the Baltimore Orioles, LHP Jimmy Osting is with the Philadelphia Phillies and LHP Joey Nation is on the Chicago Cubs 40-man roster. These three players left the Braves via trades.
Pitchers and catchers report to the Braves’ spring training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida on February 15. Their first workout is scheduled for February 16. The rest of the team reports on February 20 with the first full squad workout scheduled for February 21.
The Pelicans quest for a “three-peat” as the Carolina League champions begins at home on Friday, April 6 versus the Winston-Salem Warthogs at 7:05 PM. Individual game tickets go on sale on Saturday, March 10 beginning at 10 AM. Season and group ticket packages are currently available for purchase. The Pelicans ticket office can be contacted at 843-918-6000.
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL-Digital, WRAL-FM, Microspace, the North Carolina News Network, DTV Plus, Wolfpack Sports Marketing, and Capitol Sports Management in Raleigh, NC; WJZY-TV and WFVT-TV in Charlotte, NC; WILM-TV in Wilmington, NC; WRAZ-TV and the Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, NC; and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball Club in Myrtle Beach, SC; Capitol Broadcasting Company also founded Local TV on Satellite in Raleigh, NC.
