Results tagged ‘ Myrtle Beach Pelicans ’

Pitcher Tyler Wilson of the Frederick Keys

The sweat flies off Pitcher Tyler Wilson (26) of the Frederick Keys in a game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on August 4, 2012, at TicketReturn.Com Field in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Myrtle Beach won, 4-3. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)

A different angle for a play at the plate

Catcher Tomas Telis (17) of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tags out Michael Flacco (27) of the Frederick Keys in a game on August 4, 2012, at TicketReturn.Com Field in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Flacco was attempting to score from second base on a fielding error in the top of the 7th inning. Myrtle Beach won, 4-3. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)

I always look forward to trying something a little bit different. Saturday night I had one of those chances.

I was able to free up the time drive over to Myrtle Beach and shoot the Pelicans-Frederick Keys game. The Pelicans’ stadium, now called the TicketReturn.Com Field, is normally a tough place to shoot. The light streaks in from the first-base side, casting long shadows. Hat shadows are awful.

At the start of the game the batters are half in shadows and have in direct sunlight.

(At least I don’t have to play left field. Those poor guys have to stare directly into the sun until it drops down below the stadium walls.)

And then when the sun goes down the field lights don’t provide the best possible illumination.

But enough negatives. The best part of the stadium is that the netting does not extend over the dugouts, making it possible to sit in the upper stands and get a great, unobstructed view of the action on the infield.

So Saturday night I climbed up to a metal bench seat in section 200-something and caught this image at home plate.

Braves sign Prado, Wilson to one-year deals

Martin Prado of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A Carolina League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, taken May 13, 2005, at Pfitzner Stadium, Woodbridge, Va. (Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images)

The Atlanta Braves have signed veteran utility man Martin Prado to a one-year contract.

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that “The deal, which will pay Prado between $4.5 and $5 million, has no real bearing on the whether the Braves end up trading him because any conversations have come with the understanding that Prado would draw this kind of salary for 2012.”

The Braves also signed infielder Jack Wilson to a one-year deal.

 

Matt Young gets the call for opening day

9 April 2008: Infielder Matt Young (6) of the Mississippi Braves, Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, in the season’s home opener against the Mobile BayBears at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss. Photo by: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images

Infielder Matt Young, a long-time Minor Leaguer, got the word today that he’ll be on the Atlanta Braves’ 25-man roster on opening day.

Reports from the Braves’ beat writers indicate that Young was so emotional when he was given the news Sunday morning that he temporarily forgot to listen to anything else that was said.

Nobody in the Braves organization has worked harder to get a roster spot. Young, generously listed at 5 feet 8 inches, has had to work harder than anyone else to get noticed. He has been a perennial award winner and all-star.

He hit .300 last year at Triple-A, .358 just a few months ago in Mexico, and in his career was player of the week in the International League, Southern League, Carolina League, Best Hustler in the Southern League . . . and you get the picture.

Has his height kept him back? Probably, but he keeps hustling and winning awards. And now he finally got the call after being in the Braves organization since 2005.

I’ve photographed him for several years, including quite a bit when he was in Mississippi, and I haven’t seen very many players work as hard as he has. He deserves this shot.

Also selected to the opening day roster today were Brandon Hicks, also a long-time Braves farmhand, another feel-good announcement.

15 March 2009: Brandon Hicks in a game between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros at the Braves’ Spring Training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Photo by: Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jason Heyward to start in right field for Braves

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Jason Heyward of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, warms up prior to a game against the Wilmington Blue Rocks April 10, 2009 at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Photo by:  Tom Priddy/MiLB.com
Bobby Cox today announced that rookie Jason Heyward, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, will start the 2010 season in right field for Atlanta.
Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com quotes Cox as saying during his meeting this morning with Heyward: “I’m delighted to tell you that you’re on the team, Jason, simply because it makes us a better team.”
Cox called it an easy decision because Heyward was batting .366 with a .500 on-base percentage in his first 16 spring games, Gonzalez writes.
Heyward is no stranger to my blogs. I love the guy and have photographed him many times, including:

Freddie Freeman continues impressive season

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       April 10, 2009: First baseman Freddie Freeman (12) of the Myrtle Beach 
       Pelicans, Class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, in a game against the 
       Wilmington Blue Rocks at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 
       Photo by:  Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images/MiLB.com
I’m terribly late with this, but first baseman Freddie Freeman was voted the Carolina League’s Topps Player of the Month for June in a poll of the league’s managers.
In my own defense, however, the league was a bit late with the award, too. By the time this came out he already had been promoted to Double A.

Oh, my gosh — Braves trade Francoeur

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I just found out that the Atlanta Braves have traded outfielder Jeff Francoeur, one of the team’s most popular players, to the New York Mets for Ryan Church.
Maybe I’ll have something else to say later . . . but, you know, I just can’t formulate anything right now . . .
This 2005 photo when he was with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans is the oldest one I could find on my current computer. I’d have to dig out some backup drives for anything older. I’ve photographed Jeff for many years, all the way back to Class A ball. The gallery of some of my favorite photos is listed below.

Heyward is Atlanta’s lone prospect at Futures

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       April 10, 2009: Outfielder Jason Heyward (34) of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 
       Class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, before a game against the Wilmington 
       Blue Rocks at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Photo by:  Tom 
       Priddy/Four Seam Images
Myrtle Beach Pelicans outfielder Jason Heyward is one of 25 Minor Leaguers, and the only Atlanta prospect, who will represent the United States in the 11th annual XM All-Star Futures Game July 12. 
The Pelicans’ news release says it best: “Heyward, 19, has spent all season with the Pelicans, seeing action in 41 games this year. The outfielder is batting .288 with nine home runs and 23 runs batted in for Myrtle Beach.  Heyward was named Carolina League Player of the Week for May 11-17, having batted .319 (6-for-19) with three home runs, five runs batted in, five walks and just one strikeout over that span. He was named to the Carolina League All-Star Team as well, one of only two Pelicans, along with fellow outfielder Cody Johnson, to receive the honor.”
They didn’t say anything about how photogenic he is — so I’ll throw that in here at the end. I love taking his photo. Who wouldn’t?

Braves trade three prospects for Pirates’ McLouth

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       23 April 2007: Charlie Morton of the Mississippi Braves, the Atlanta Braves’ 
       Class AA affiliate of the Southern League, prior to a game against the 
       Birmingham Barons at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss.
Arrrgh. As if releasing Tom Glavine weren’t enough, the Braves today also traded away three highly regarded prospects for Pirates outfielder Nate McLouth.
They traded away pitchers Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.
I’ve photographed all of these guys in recent years, most recently Locke at Myrtle Beach.
I hate it when the Braves trade away these guys . . .
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       April 10, 2009: LHP Jeff Locke (9) of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Class A 
       affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, in a game against the Wilmington Blue Rocks 
       at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 

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       July 11, 2008: Outfielder Gorkys Hernandez (5) of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 
       Class A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, in a game against the Salem Avalanche 
       at BB&T Coastal Field in Myrtle Beach, S.C. 

Pelicans’ Sullivan throws complete-game shutout

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I’m no expert, but I’m guessing it’s not every year that you find a baseball draft pick out of the Savannah College of Art and Design, but that’s where the Braves got Richard Sullivan last year.
That chance is paying off now as the former illustration major pitched a complete-game shutout today.
Now with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Sullivan, 22, is 2-1 in high Class A. He gave up three hits and two walks while striking out nine to pick up the win in a 6-1 victory over Winston-Salem.
I’ve had a total of about 90 seconds to photograph Sullivan this year, but I managed to get a few shots, including this one, at Spring Training.
I had worse luck during the regular season. I photographed Myrtle Beach this year before he arrived, and Rome after he left. Sometimes it just works out that way. If you’re doing well you can move up quickly. He was 4-1 in low Class A Rome before the promotion.
17 March 2009: LHP Richard Sullivan of the Atlanta Braves at Spring Training camp at Disney’s Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Photo by:  Tom Priddy/Four Seam Images
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