Which Cubs Prospects Helped Myrtle Beach Clinch a Playoff Spot?

The Chicago Cubs’ Class-A affiliate, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, clinched a spot in the Carolina League playoffs last weekend by winning the season’s first half championship.

The Pelicans did the same thing in the first half of last season.

Some of the Cubs’ top prospects had something to do with it. In fact, the Pelicans led the Carolina League with 513 hits at the time they clinched the playoff spot.

The Cubs have four Top 30 prospects at Myrtle Beach — left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris (No. 8), shortstop Cristian Hernandez (No. 9), catcher Moises Ballesteros (No. 19) and infielder Pedro Ramirez (No. 21).

Ferris doesn’t have a decision yet in seven starts. But he has 2.89 ERA with 25 strikeouts against 11 walks. Opponents are batting .156 against him.

Hernandez is batting .250 for the Pelicans, with three home runs and 20 RBI. He also leads the Pelicans with 11 stolen bases.

Ballesteros has been the team’s second-biggest power source so far with eight home runs. He’s batting .274, has driven in 32 runs and has drawn 40 walks to 30 strikeouts. He also leads the Pelicans in games played (56).

Ramirez is batting .246 with one home run and 12 RBI in 41 games. He’s scored 22 runs and walked 13 times. He’s also struck out 34 times.

Felix Stevens, the Pelicans’ first baseman, leads the team with 13 home runs. He also leads the team’s qualifying players in batting average at .289.

Two pitchers — Brody McCullough and Johzan Oquendo — each won five games for the Pelicans in the fisrt half. Yovanny Cabrera, a reliever with a 2-2 record, leads with a 1.83 ERA. McCullough also has a team-leading 70 strikeouts.

The Pelicans return to action on Tuesday against Kannapolis.