See them before they are gone — two players to watch at the Myrtle Beach Pelicans games

Even if you are not a baseball fan and just looking for some summer fun, now is the time to watch two athletes that may soon be in the major leagues.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are in first place in the Carolina League South Division. The Pelicans also currently have five of the Cubs’ top 30 prospects on their roster, and two are in the top 10.

Pitcher Jackson Ferris and infielder Cristian Hernandez are the eighth and ninth-ranked prospects in the Cubs organization and both are projected to debut in the Major League Baseball in 2026.

Jackson Ferris is a North Carolina native and is getting his start at the professional level

The first thing to know about Jackson Ferris is he can throw a baseball harder than most other 19-year-olds.

“When he keeps his mechanics in sync,” wrote MLB.com, “Ferris displays three plus pitches that can miss bats in the strike zone, the best of which is a 92-95 mph fastball that touches 97.”

High velocity has helped Ferris get batters out his whole life, and the Carolinas is where he got his start. Originally from Mount Airy, North Carolina, Ferris first played for his hometown high school before finishing his career at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

The boarding school, which was recently sold by the owners of the UFC and WWE for $1.25 billion, is known nationally for its strong athletics program and for sending its players to the professional level.

Ferris’ strong performance in high school, the rangy North Carolinian threw a perfect game and was named a top contender for the 2021 Max Preps baseball player of the year, was good enough for the Cubs to select him with the No. 47 pick in the 2022 MLB draft.

The Cubs quickly signed Ferris to a three million dollar contract, and he’s performed well in his short time in Myrtle Beach.

In six starts this season, Ferris has pitched 15 innings, has 21 strikeouts and has an ERA of 2.87. Ferris is still a teenager, and it remains to be seen what Ferris’s upside truly is.

Cristian Hernandez has been compared to stars

Giving a 17-year-old three million dollars is a risky proposition in most cases, but the Cubs in 2021 thought it was worth it when they saw Cristian Hernandez play.

The 6’1” shortstop from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, stood out amongst international players because of his impressive fielding and bat speed.

“If Hernandez can develop into a quality hitter, he’ll be a five-tool shortstop,” according to MLB.com.

The potential Hernandez could turn into a great batter made him a highly coveted prospect, and experts liked him so much that he drew comparisons to the likes of Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado.

He’s been busy since the Cubs signed him. In 2021 Hernandez played in the Dominican Summer League, and he saw action in the Arizona Complex League in 2022.

Now in Myrtle Beach for the 2023 season, Hernandez has shown flashes of his potential. His batting average sits at .238 with nine stolen bases in over 40 games played.

Here is when and where to watch the Myrtle Beach Pelicans play this week

The Pelicans and their array of highly touted prospects will begin a home series against the Fredericksburg Nationals starting Tuesday, June 13.

The games will be played at Pelicans Ballpark at 1251 21st Ave N, Myrtle Beach.

The games can also be streamed live on the Bally Live app or MiLB.TV.

• Game 1: Myrtle Beach vs. Fredericksburg Tuesday, June 13, 7:05 p.m. ET

• Game 2: vs. Fredericksburg Wednesday, June 14, 7:05 p.m. ET

• Game 3: vs. Fredericksburg Thursday, June 15, 7:05 p.m. ET

• Game 4: vs. Fredericksburg Friday, June 16, 7:05 p.m. ET

• Game 5: vs. Fredericksburg Saturday, June 17, 6:35 p.m. ET

• Game 6: vs. Fredericksburg Sunday, June 18, 6:35 p.m. ET