Pelicans Unveil 2026 Opening Day Roster

Squad includes four of Cubs top 30 prospects, and 18 players who have logged time with Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C (April 2, 2026). – The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs, have announced the roster for the upcoming 2026 season. The group features four of the top 30 ranked prospects in the Cubs system according to MLB.com, and 16 players who have previously played in Myrtle Beach.

Myrtle Beach’s highest rated prospect, Josiah Hartshorn, checks in as the No.8 overall prospect in the Cubs farm system. Hartshorn was drafted in the sixth round (No.181) of the 2025 MLB Draft out of Orange Lutheran High School (Calif.). In 2025, the 19 year-old prospect hit .364 over 109 plate appearances while adding five home runs, nine doubles, and 24 RBI. Nagging elbow injuries to both arms forced the switch hitter to one side of the plate for various amounts of time. He has yet to make his affiliated ball debut. Notably in 2024, the New York, N.Y. native shared the championship of the All-Star High School Home Run Derby held at Globe Life Field.

Joining Hartshorn in the Cubs Top 30 prospect list are Cole Mathis (No.15), Dominick Reid (No.16), and Ty Southisene (No.26).

Mathis started the 2025 season in Myrtle Beach where he slashed .215/.336/.402 to go along with nine doubles, one triple, three home runs, and 14 RBI over 29 games. The Cataula, Ga. native was drafted in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of College of Charleston.

Reid will make his professional debut in Myrtle Beach during the 2026 season. The right-hander was selected in the third round of the 2025 MLB draft out of Abilene Christian. As a member of the Wildcats squad in 2025, He went 6-3 over 15 starts while posting a 3.26 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, to go along with a career-high 112 strikeouts.

Southisene played a total of 90 games for the Pelicans last season slashing .244/.387/.276 with six doubles, two triples, 36 RBI, and a team-high 41 stolen bases. The Las Vegas, Nev. native led the team with 62 walks and 69 runs scored. During spring training, Southisene was primarily working in a middle infield role focusing on shortstop and will most likely continue that role with the Pelicans to start the year.

Alexey Lumpuy, Derik Alcantara, and Kevin Camacho are a few more impact players returning to Myrtle Beach this season.

Lumpuy is another talented player that returns to the Grand Strand for another season. In 2025, the 22-year-old outfielder smashed a team-high 11 home runs and finished second on the team in stolen bases with 30. The Camaguey, Cuba product hit .209/.294/.364 in 382 at-bats throughout the 102 games he played in.

Alcantara rounds out the Pelicans outfield and will look to make a bigger impact this season after appearing in just 26 games last season. In 78 at-bats, Alcantara tallied 15 hits, 17 runs, two doubles, a triple, and a home run while adding 12 RBI’s.

Camacho makes landfall in Myrtle Beach to start his 2026 campaign. The right-hander was a force to be reckoned with on the mound during the Pelicans blistering second-half of the season. Camacho fanned 33 batters over 30.2 innings of work and posted a 1.76 ERA. The Maria La Baja, Columbia native has seen an uptick in his velocity over the offseason, going from 92 MPH to 95 MPH.

Along with the top prospects and returning players, the 2026 Pelicans Opening Day roster includes:

• Players from five different countries (USA, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Columbia, and Venezuela).
• Players from 13 different US states (two from North Carolina and two from Tennessee)
• Six players from Venezuela and seven players from the Dominican Republic
• 18 players returning to Myrtle Beach

Below is the full roster:

Pitchers (17 + 2 DEV): Rowell Arroyo, David Bracho, Jackson Brockett, Kevin Camacho**, Noah Edders, Hayden Frank, Jordan Henriquez, Riely Hunsaker, Eli Jerzembeck, Ben Johnson, Mason McGwire, Edwardo Melendez, Aiden Moffett, Braylon Myers**, Dominick Reid, Luis A. Reyes, Victor Zarraga. DEV List: Pierce Coppola, Jostin Florentino

Catchers (3): Michael Carico, Jairo Diaz, Logan Poteet

Infield (5): Jose Escobar, Ludwing Espinoza, Cole Mathis, Ty Southisene, Derniche Valdez

Outfield (5): Derik Alcantara, Josiah Hartshorn, Eli Lovich, Alexey Lumpuy**, Edward Vargas.**