Rocket Wheeler returning to Carolina League with the Mudcats

Ralph “Rocket” Wheeler is looking forward to two versions of home games during the 2016 minor league baseball season.

He’ll have his team’s home games at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C., and he’ll have his personal home games at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark.

The 30-year Pawleys Island resident, who managed the Myrtle Beach Pelicans for five years from 2006-10, will return to TicketReturn.com Field for 15 regular-season games this year as the manager of the Carolina Mudcats, who play with the Pelicans in the Southern Division of the advanced Single-A Carolina League.

Wheeler learned in December he was assigned to Carolina by the Atlanta Braves.

“It’s awesome to get back in the Carolina League and have a chance to come home to Myrtle Beach and play the Pelicans,” Wheeler said. “It’s good for me and the family. I get to come home for 15 games.”

Wheeler, who turned 61 on Monday, is entering his 40th season as a professional baseball player, coach or manager. He was with the Blue Jays organization for 26 years and is entering his 14th year with the Braves.

His run as Pelicans manager came to an end when the franchise changed major league affiliations from the Braves to the Texas Rangers for the 2011 season.

He led the Pelicans to the best record in minor league baseball in 2008 at 89-51 and a berth in the Carolina League championship series, and managed numerous major leaguers including Elvis Andrus, Tyler Flowers, Jason Heyward, Craig Kimbrel and Freddie Freeman.

He managed the low-A Rome Braves for three years before taking over the Pelicans in 2006.

Since 2010, he has managed the Double-A Mississippi Braves in Pearl, Miss., for a season and the Braves’ rookie team that played at Walt Disney World in Orlando in the Gulf Coast League from 2012-1. Last year, he spent half the campaign in extended spring training before managing a short-season rookie ball team in Danville, Va.

“I enjoy it wherever they put me. Wherever they want me to go to help the organization, that’s what I want,” Wheeler said. “Though the years I was in Myrtle Beach were the best because I had the chance to be home. There aren’t many guys in the world in baseball that get to do this and be at home.”

The Mudcats, who are coming off a 71-68 season, will host Myrtle Beach for their first home series from April 14-17, and Wheeler will lead them into a four-game series at Pelicans Ballpark from April 21-24.

Wheeler is still friendly with a number of Pelicans employees who were with the team during his tenure, and anticipates having an odd feeling coming out of the visitor’s clubhouse beyond left field.

“It will be strange,” Wheeler said. “I spent five years coming out of that home clubhouse and I’ll be coming out of the other clubhouse.”

Wheeler will be able to spend time with his two adult children while on road trips to Myrtle Beach. His daughter, Katie, recently earned her Masters degree and is teaching first grade at Andrews Elementary, and son Marty “Missile” Wheeler is a custodian at Waccamaw Intermediate School and a cook at Carolina Tavern. He served as a bullpen catcher when Wheeler managed the Pelicans.

The Pelicans are entering their second season in the Chicago Cubs organization after four years with the Rangers.

The Pelicans are the reigning Carolina League Mills Cup champions and will have Buddy Bailey, the Cubs’ manager at Double-A Tennessee in 2015, as their new manager this season. Bailey, 58, is switching managerial places with Myrtle Beach’s manager for the 2015 baseball season, Mark Johnson.

This upcoming season will be Bailey’s 28th as a manager and 11th with the Cubs organization. His staff will include pitching coach Anderson Tavarez, hitting coach Mariano Duncan, assistant Juan Cabreja, athletic trainer Toby Williams and strength coach Jason Morriss.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 3:40 PM with the headline "Rocket Wheeler returning to Carolina League with the Mudcats."