Pelicans name Milovich Vice President and GM

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans, the Class-A Advanced Carolina League affiliate of the Texas Rangers, today announced the hiring of 23-year Minor League Baseball executive Andy Milovich as the club's Vice President and General Manager. Milovich will fill the vacancy created by the departure of Scott Brown, who left the Pelicans this month to accept the General Manager position with the Triple-A Charlotte (N.C.) Knights of the International League.

The 43-year old Milovich currently serves as Executive Vice President of Palisades Baseball, which owns and operates the Class-A West Virginia Power, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates located in Charleston. Andy spent the past 19 seasons with Palisades Baseball, including stints as the top executive of the Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves from 1997-98, the Mahoning Valley (OH) Scrappers from 1999-2004, and the Power since 2005. He will begin his tenure with the Pelicans in mid-January.

"After an extensive, industry-wide search we are thrilled to add someone as talented, experienced and relationship-oriented as Andy to lead the Pelicans front office team," said team Chairman & Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg. "It truly is a credit to the strength and appeal of the Grand Strand community and our organization that we have been able to attract such a proven industry leader. Andy's years of experience as a successful club operator alone make him a great fit to lead the club, and his career accomplishments are remarkable. But what makes him the absolute perfect choice is his character, enthusiasm, commitment to building long-lasting partnerships in the community, and shared vision to provide the best ballpark experience and the most fun, affordable family entertainment option on the Grand Strand."

Milovich's career highlights include being named the 1997 Sporting News Minor League Executive of the Year and 2000 New York-Penn League Executive of the Year, while his 1999 Mahoning Valley club was awarded the prestigious John H. Johnson President's Trophy for overall franchise excellence in Minor League Baseball. Andy has also been instrumental in launching brand-new ballparks in Erie (1994), Mahoning Valley (1999) and West Virginia (2005).

"I'm incredibly excited to join the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Greenberg Sports Group," said Milovich. "I've known Chuck Greenberg for a long time and have a tremendous amount of respect for his group's accomplishments. My wife and I can't wait to make Myrtle Beach our home and start developing the relationships for a long and successful stay on the Grand Strand while building on the franchise's strong foundation established under Scotty Brown and North Johnson."

A native of South Bend, Indiana, Andy holds degrees in both Business Administration and Sports Management from Valparaiso University in Indiana and a Master's Degree in Sport Management from the University of Georgia. While at Valpo, he was a four-year letter winner for the Crusaders baseball program. It was during his college career that Andy got his start in professional baseball, spending the 1990 season as an intern with the South Bend White Sox in the Midwest League. He also worked for teams in Tucson, Arizona and Madison, Wisconsin before joining Palisades Baseball in 1994.

Andy and his wife, Cher, have been married for five years and the couple has two daughters, Addison Eileen and Dylan Stone. Cher is a personal trainer with over a decade of experience in the fitness industry as an instructor and national level fitness competitor. The couple shares a passion for active lifestyles, the outdoors, sporting events, and concerts.

Media, fans, sponsors and community business leaders will have the opportunity to meet Andy at an introductory event to be held the week of January 7. The club will distribute specific details related to this event at a later date.

The Pelicans open the 2013 Carolina League season, the franchise's 15th on the Grand Strand, on Thirsty Thursday, April 4 against the Wilmington Blue Rocks at 7:05 p.m. Season ticket, mini-plan and flex book packages are on sale now by calling the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000.