Fernando Cruz heads to Double-A

FREDERICK, MD. (AUGUST 2, 2015) - The Chicago Cubs promoted Pelicans right-handed hurler Fernando Cruz to Double-A Tennessee on Sunday. In a corresponding move, left-handed pitcher Tyler Ihrig returns to the Pelicans roster from Class-A South Bend. The left-handed swingman spent roughly a month with the Pelicans before going down to the Midwest League on July 7.

Cruz, 25, was on the Double-A Tennessee Smokies' initial roster to begin the season but was transferred to the Pelicans on May 30. In 14 games with Myrtle Beach, Cruz carries a 1-2 record with a 3.78 ERA in 33 1/3 innings of work, having struck out 25 Carolina League batters while walking 12. A native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, he has made three starts with the Pelicans but has taken no decision in each. Cruz also dominated out of the bullpen: despite allowing five runs in his final two outings, he leaves the Carolina League with a 3.00 ERA in 12 relief appearances.

With the Smokies, Cruz was 1-0 in 11 bullpen outings and compiled a 5.23 ERA with one save in three chances. In 20 2/3 innings of work, he struck out 22 while walking 11.

Originally selected as a shortstop by the Kansas City Royals out of Puerto Rico Advancement College in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, he converted to pitching during 2011 season. The Royals released him in 2012, but he later signed a one-year minor league contract with Cubs on December 19, 2014. He pitched in the Puerto Rican Winter League from 2008-2014 for three different teams, but until this season, he had not pitched in affiliated Minor League Baseball since 2012.

Ihrig, 23, begins his second stint with the Pelicans this year and has pitched for all four full-season minor league clubs in the Cubs' system. In his first go-around with the Pelicans, Ihrig posted no record with a 6.00 ERA in five outings, one start, striking out ten and walking six in 15.0 innings of work.

The Monroe, Wash., native returns to the Birds from South Bend where he made six outings in July, including a start in his second stint with South Bend. His last appearance came Friday night when he tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings, and he currently rides 3 2/3 scoreless frames over his last two appearances.

Ihrig, a left-hander, started the season on the disabled list with South Bend before moving to Eugene on May 7. He was then transferred to Iowa on May 12, and sent to Tennessee on May 16 before being moved again to Eugene on June 3. He was assigned back to Tennessee on June 6 before his reassignment to Myrtle Beach. He went down to South Bend on July 7 and returns Sunday.

The Cubs selected Ihrig in the 23rd round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft out of the College of Marin (Calif.).

The Pelicans' roster is now at 25 active players, the Carolina League limit, and includes six players on the disabled list.

Cruz joins a list of 13 other players to earn promotions from Myrtle Beach this year. Starling Peralta, Matt Brazis, Jacob Hannemann, Gerardo Concepcion, Wes Darvill, Billy McKinney, Tayler Scott, Zach Cates, Cael Brockmeyer, Jeimer Candelario, Juan Paniagua, and Jacob Rogers have all been promoted to Tennessee this season, and Michael Heesch is the only Pelicans player to skip Double-A and make a stop in Triple-A Iowa. Brockmeyer and Heesch have both returned and are on the active roster.

The Pelicans complete their road trip on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium against the Frederick Keys.

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.