FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 2, 2001
Contact: Bryan Dolgin
843-918-6016
The 2001 Myrtle Beach Pelicans
MYRTLE BEACH, SC — The 2001 Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Single-A Advanced affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, officially released their roster today. The 25-man roster features 12 pitchers, seven infielders, four outfielders and two catchers. The roster has six returning players and 19 new faces including the Braves top Minor League prospect according to Baseball America, shortstop Wilson Betemit. The 2001 season is the Pelicans third season, and they are vying for their third consecutive Carolina League Mills Cup Championship.
The returnees to the 2001 squad include third baseman Troy Cameron, left-handed starting pitcher Jung Bong, right fielder Ryan Langerhans and infielder Nick Green from the 2000 team. Catcher Jeff Rodriguez and infielder Louis Martinez appeared for short stints on the ’99 roster. Cameron, the Braves first round pick in ’97, tied for last year’s regular season team-lead of 15 home runs and was third with 51 RBI. He returns as a switch hitter after hitting solely right handed last season. Langerhans led the ’00 squad and was third in the CL with seven triples.
Betemit is 19-years-old and is from the Dominican Republic. He is the second youngest player ever to be on a Pelicans roster (Rafael Furcal was 18 when he joined the Pelicans on July 23, 1999). Betemit batted .331 with two triples, five home runs, 15 doubles, 29 stolen bases, 37 RBI and 54 runs scored in 69 games played for Jamestown last season. Betemit is on the Braves 40-man roster.
Brian Snitker, the CL’s 2000 Manager of the Year, returns to the Pelicans as does pitching coach Bruce Dal Canton and athletic trainer Mike Graus. Tommy Gregg is the Pelicans newest coach.
Roster bits: Right-handed starting pitcher Matt Butler is rated the Braves 12th best Minor League prospect according to Baseball America. Also, Butler was the Braves top pick (2nd round) in the ’99 June draft. Unlike the past two seasons, no player on this roster resides in South Carolina. However, Florida leads all of the United States with six residing Pelicans. The 2001 Pelicans are from 12 different states and three countries. There are 18 players that played college baseball. Betemit is the youngest player and Joe Nelson, 26, is the oldest. Eight players were signed as non-drafted free agents and 17 signed out of the June drafts dating from 1996 through 2000. The 2001 Pelicans are predominantly made up of players from the Braves Single-A affiliate of Macon (GA) and Jamestown (NY).
The general public can meet the Pelicans at Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery in Broadway At The Beach on Thursday, April 5 from 6 to 8 PM. The Pelicans players and coaches will be available for autographs from 6 to 7 PM, and the team will be introduced beginning at 7 PM. Liberty will feature happy hour prices on food and beverage. In addition, fans can sign up to win Pelicans prize packages. Admission is free and will move indoors if there is inclement weather.
The Pelicans open the 2001 season versus the Winston-Salem Warthogs (Chicago White Sox) on Friday, April 6 at Coastal Federal Field. The gates will open at 5:30, the pre-game festivities begin at 6:30 and the first pitch is slated for 7:05 PM. The entertainment act of Reggy (formerly known The Philly Phanatic) will be on hand, and all fans will receive magnet schedules courtesy of Papa John’s Pizza. For tickets, please call 843-918-6000 or purchase tickets on-line at www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com/ticketsonline/.
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.
