Brad Markey honored with Cubs Pitcher of the Month for July

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AUGUST 5, 2015) - The Chicago Cubs announced on Wednesday that Myrtle Beach Pelicans right-hander Brad Markey has been named the Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month for the month of July. The 23-year-old hurler completed a dominant month capped off by a career-best ten strikeout game over Carolina on July 26.  

Markey, 23, made his first pro start on the first of the month for Class-A South Bend before spending the rest of July with the Pelicans after a July 5 promotion. In five outings, including four starts, the former Virginia Tech Hokie was 3-0 with a 1.26 ERA, allowing just four earned runs in 28 2/3 innings of work. He posted an incredible 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, with 21 strikeouts compared to just three walks. Opponents at the two levels hit just .173 against him with a .198 on-base percentage and a .245 slugging percentage.

On July 26 at home against the Carolina Mudcats, Markey fanned a career-high 10 hitters in seven shutout frames on the way to his third Carolina League win. The ten strikeouts were the most for a Pelicans pitcher in a single game since June 3, 2013 when Jerad Eickhoff fanned 11 Potomac Nationals. Of Markey's ten strikeouts, nine were of the swinging variety.

In each of his four Pelicans outings during the month of July, Markey allowed one or fewer runs and had a 16-inning scoreless streak snapped in the fifth inning of his first August start this past Saturday, August 1.

Markey's 0.70 WHIP in July was the lowest in the Carolina League and all of Class A-Advanced as well as third-lowest in all of the minors.

After collecting a pair of saves in 12 outings, including one start, with Class-A South Bend along with a 2.48 ERA, Markey has improved upon his numbers in the Carolina League. The Maryland native has gone 3-0 with a 0.91 ERA (3 ER/29.2 IP) in five outings, all but one as a starter, for the Pelicans.

Across the two levels, Markey is 3-0 with two saves and a 1.69 ERA in 17 games, including five starts, this season, having struck out 42 next to just seven walks.

The Chicago Cubs selected Markey as a senior in the 19th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Virginia Tech. The right-hander spent his freshman season at Georgia Tech and a sophomore campaign at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Florida, before becoming ACC teammates with current Pelicans outfielder Mark Zagunis with the Hokies.

Markey is 4-1 with four saves and a 2.16 ERA in 32 career minor league contests, including five as a starter. He has walked 12 and struck out 71 while allowing just four home runs.

Class-A South Bend outfielder Jeffrey Baez hit .333 with 10 extra-base hits and nine stolen bases in the month of July en route to winning Cubs Player of the Month for July.

Past Cubs Pitcher of the Month award winners this year include: Jeremy Null (April), Ryan Williams (May), and Carlos Pimentel (June). In addition to Baez, Dan Vogelbach (April), Kyle Schwarber (May), and Zagunis (June) have won Cubs Player of the Month this season.

The Pelicans continue their homestand on Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. ET against the Wilmington Blue Rocks at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.

Markey is expected to pitch next on Sunday as the starting pitcher in the Pelicans' 6:05 p.m. tilt with the Frederick Keys to complete the six-game homestand at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.