Outfielder Mark Zagunis activated from disabled list

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AUGUST 20, 2015) - On Thursday, the Chicago Cubs activated Myrtle Beach Pelicans outfielder Mark Zagunis from the 7-day disabled list. In a corresponding roster move, right-handed pitcher Jonathan Martinez was placed on the 7-day disabled list.

Zagunis, 22, was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday, retroactive to August 8. The outfielder was struck in the helmet during an at-bat against Frederick Keys reliever Jimmy Yacabonis in the fifth inning of a game at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark on August 7. Zagunis has not played since that game.

With 71 walks, Zagunis is currently tied with Lynchburg's Mike Papi for the most in the Carolina League, and his .408 on-base percentage is also tops in the circuit, which has translated into scoring the third-most runs (69). He also leads the league with 13 hit by pitches. Zagunis' .275 batting average is tied for eighth-highest in the Carolina League. This season, he has accumulated 22 doubles, the second-most triples on the Pelicans roster (4), and the second-most home runs (7) on the team, along with the second-most RBI (48). On the basepaths, Zagunis is 11-for-21 in stolen bases.

A 2015 Carolina League midseason All-Star, Zagunis was also named the Chicago Cubs Minor League Player of the Month for June 2015.

A six-foot-tall, right-handed hitting native of Willingboro, New Jersey, the Cubs originally selected Zagunis as a catcher in the third round (78th overall) of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Virginia Tech University. He was the second backstop drafted by the Cubs that season after Kyle Schwarber (first round, fourth overall pick) but has played exclusively in the outfield this season.

Martinez, 21, pitched 4.0 scoreless innings on Wednesday and took no decision in game one of a doubleheader against the Winston-Salem Dash. In 109.0 overall innings with the Pelicans this year, Martinez has accumulated an 8-2 record, fanned 62 batters, allowed 23 walks, and he has the league's third-best ERA (2.72). A fly-ball pitcher, Martinez has allowed the fifth-most home runs in the circuit (10), but he also carries the lowest WHIP (0.93), lowest opponents' batting average (.200), and he allows the fewest baserunners for any starter in the circuit (8.83 per nine innings). His 2.72 ERA is also the third-lowest among all Cubs minor leaguers.

A 2015 midseason All-Star, the Carolina League named Martinez its Pitcher of the Week for the week of July 27‒August 2. A right-handed native of Maracay, Venezuela, the Los Angeles Dodgers originally signed him as a non-drafted free agent on May 11, 2011. The Cubs then acquired Martinez as the player to be named later in a trade for infielder Darwin Barney on July 28, 2014. 

Although not currently ranked among the Cubs top 30 prospects, Martinez was ranked No. 15 among Dodgers prospects by MLB.com entering the 2013 season.

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

The Pelicans wrap up their series with the Winston-Salem Dash from BB&T Ballpark on Thursday, August 20, with a 7:00 p.m. ET first pitch. The club then heads to Frederick, Maryland, on Friday to open a three-game set against the Frederick Keys. First pitch from Harry Grove Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.

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.