RailCats MAINTAIN RIGHTS TO 16 PLAYERS FOR 2008 SEASON

 

October 31, 2007                                            Contact:  Tom Nichols at (219) 882-2255

 

Gary, Ind.—The two-time Northern League champion Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club announced today that the options on 16 players have been exercised for the 2008 season.  RailCats manager Greg Tagert made the announcement. 

 

The RailCats have retained the contractual rights to pitchers Matt Brinkmann, Tony Cogan, Steve Edsall, Travis Kerber, Brad Mumma, and Jim Paduch; catchers Brett Wallace and Jose Yepez; infielders Eric Blakeley, Dave Detienne, Eric McNamee, Jay Pecci, and Tanner Townsend; and outfielders Dale Mueller, Nate Price, and Mike Reese.  All but Mumma and Paduch finished the 2007 season with the RailCats.  Mumma is on the club's inactive list while Paduch was reacquired in a trade with Evansville of the Frontier League earlier this week.

 

The RailCats declined to exercise the option on pitchers Jim Crowell and David Byard and outfielder Jermaine Allensworth, making all three players free agents.  The RailCats also did not exercise the option on pitcher Jason Shelley, who announced his retirement on Monday. 

 

Three other RailCats players became free agents immediately after the 2007 post-season concluded.  They are pitchers Willie Glen and Josh Habel and outfielder Steve Haake.  Glen is expected to sign with a major league organization soon while Habel and Haake, both key members of the RailCats, are exploring their options.

 

Today's announcement comes in accordance with Northern League rules that require teams to designate players with whom they desire to maintain contractual rights for the upcoming season.  None of the players have signed 2008 contracts.

 

The RailCats open the 2008 season on May 15^th at U. S. Steel Yard against the Joliet JackHammers as they pursue their third Northern League title in a four year period.

 

More Info:  The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs.  For the last four years, they have been chosen "Best Local Spectator Sport" by Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly.  Their 96 game schedule includes 48 home games at beautiful U. S. Steel Yard, an award-winning 6,000 seat state-of-the-art facility located next to the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) with easy access to I-65.

 

###