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 Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Andrus, Saltalamacchia Traded To Texas

July 30, 2007 - Carolina League (CarL1)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans News Release


MYRTLE BEACH, SC - Elvis has left the building and the Atlanta Braves organization for that matter. This afternoon the Atlanta Braves pulled the trigger on a deal that will send Pelicans shortstop Elvis Andrus and former Pelicans catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, minor league pitcher Neftali Feliz, along with a player to be named later to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Gold Glove first baseman Mark Teixeira and left-handed reliever Ron Mahay.

Andrus, who will not turn 19 until August 26th, hit .244 with three home runs and 37 RBI in 99 games with the Pelicans this season. His defensive ability is what impressed fans, coaches and scouts throughout the season and he exits with the best fielding percentage (.949) of any shortstop in the Carolina League. Andrus committed just 25 errors in a league-high 495 total chances and helped turn 63 double plays this year. Highlights of his season in Myrtle Beach include a 14-game hitting streak he compiled at the beginning of the second half during which he hit .350 (21-for-60) and setting a new career-high in stolen bases with 25. Andrus was ready to enter tonight's series opener at Kinston on a modest four-game hitting streak that included three straight multi-hit games. After hitting .225 in the first half, Andrus recently started to turn things around at the plate and was batting .279 during the second half coming into today. The native of Maracay, Venezuela, who entered this season as the #2 overall prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization rated by Baseball America, played in the MLB Futures Game as a representative of the Braves and his native country.

Saltalamacchia spent the 2005 season as a member of the Pelicans and hit .314 with 19 home runs and a club record 81 RBI. The 22-year-old, switch hitting catcher became the 52nd former Pelican to make it to the Major Leagues on May 2nd when he made his big league debut against the Philadelphia Phillies. In 47 games with the Atlanta Braves this season, Salty hit .284 with four home runs and 12 RBI.

Feliz, a 19-year-old right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic, was 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA in six starts for the Danville Braves of the Appalachian League this year.

Teixeira, 27, will take over as the every day first baseman for the Braves. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket standout hit .297 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI this season for the Texas Rangers. He has won back-to-back Gold Glove Awards at first base.

Mahay, 36, pitched to a 2-0 record with a 2.77 ERA and logged one save in 28 games for the Rangers this season. He has pitched in the big leagues since 1995.

Tonight the Elvis Andrus-less Pelicans begin a quick three-game series in Kinston, with the opener getting underway at 7 p.m. at historic Grainger Stadium. Deunte Heath (1-2, 5.91 ERA) will start for the Pelicans against Kinston ace Kevin Dixon (10-3, 3.88 ERA). The game broadcast begins at 6:45 p.m. with the RSC Equipment Rental pre-game show on ESPN Radio the Team (93.7 FM, 93.9 FM, and 1050 AM) and online at www.myrtlebeachpelicans.com. For more information, please call the Pelicans at (843) 918-6002.


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