RailCats Place Jason Shelley on Inactive List; Eric Blakeley Signed as Free Agent

 

June 14, 2007                     Contact:  Tom Nichols at (219) 882-2255

 

Gary, Ind.—The Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club announced today that pitcher Jason Shelley has been placed on the inactive list.  The RailCats also announced the signing of free agent infielder Eric Blakeley. 

 

Shelley set the RailCats club record in victories last season, going 12-8 while leading the league in strikeouts.  He had struggled this season, going 1-1 with a 8.88 earned run average in six starts.

 

Blakeley, a product of Indiana University, participated in spring training with the RailCats but suffered a broken thumb during the final week of camp.  He can play all four infield positions and also play in the outfield.  His infield versatility should provide great value to the RailCats.  Through 25 games, the RailCats have used the same four infielders for all but three innings of the season.  Tanner Townsend has played every inning this season while David Detienne, Eric McNamee, and Jay Pecci have each had only one defensive inning off all year.

 

Blakeley was a 2002 3^rd Team All-Big 10 selection at I.U., batting .330 with 10 home runs and 60 runs batted in.  He was selected in the 21^st round of the 2002 draft by the Seattle Mariners and spent four years in the Mariners organization.  He played briefly in the Northern League with Joliet in 2005 but did not play in 2006.

 

The RailCats roster remains at 21 players, one below the Northern League limit.

 

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