RAILCATS SELL CONTRACT OF CATCHER JOSE YEPEZ TO SEATTLE MARINERS

 

December 20, 2007                                                            Contact:  Tom Nichols at (219) 882-2255

 

Gary, Ind.—The 2007 Northern League Champion Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball club announced today that the contract of catcher Jose Yepez (YEPP-ezz) has been sold to the Seattle Mariners.  The RailCats have now completed 17 player sales to major league organizations over their six-year history.

 

Yepez spent the 2005 and 2007 seasons with the RailCats and was a key part of Northern League championships both years.  In 2007, he played in 85 of the RailCats 96 games and started all 10 playoff games at catcher.  He batted .272 with six home runs and a team-leading 56 runs batted in.

 

"It is no coincidence that Jose Yepez has been behind the plate for the final out of each decisive game five during our two championship seasons," said RailCats manager Greg Tagert.  "His value to our club extended much further than what you see on the field.  Jose is among the most respected and popular teammates that the RailCats organization has had.  It would not surprize me to see Jose establish himself at a high level with the Mariners.  We wish him the best."

 

Following the 2005 season, the RailCats also sold Yepez's contract to Seattle, but he was released by the Mariners at the end of spring training in 2006 and spent that season with Pensacola in the American Association before being reacquired by the RailCats prior to the '07 campaign.

 

Yepez is hoping to become the third RailCats player to reach the major leagues.  Former RailCats pitcher Tim Byrdak and outfielder Nathan Haynes have both played in the major league after playing for the RailCats.  In addition to the 17 RailCats player sales to major league organizations, pitcher Willie Glen also signed with the Florida Marlins in November.  Glen spent the last three seasons with the RailCats but had become a free agent following the conclusion of the '07 campaign and the RailCats were not directly connected with Glen's signing by the Marlins. 

 

RailCats Sold to Major League Organizations

 

Player                                        MLB Club                                           Year    

Jose Yepez                                 Seattle Mariners                                  2007

Chad Blackwell                            Toronto Blue Jays                                2007

Chris Curry                                  Kansas City Royals                             2007

Todd Martin                                 Cleveland Indians                                 2006

Nathan Haynes                            Anaheim Angels                                  2006    

Jose Yepez                                 Seattle Mariners                                  2006

Ivan Hernandez                            New York Yankees                              2006

P.J. Connelly                               Los Angeles Angels                             2005    

Ben Risinger                                San Diego Padres                                2005

C.J. Medlin                                  Milwaukee Brewers                              2004

Rich Rodrigues                            Los Angeles Angels                             2004

Dominic Woody                           Seattle Mariners                                  2004

Tim Byrdak                                  San Diego Padres                                2003

Sazi Guthrie                                San Diego Padres                                2003

Jake Upwood                               San Diego Padres                                2003

Carlos Pagan                               Seattle Mariners                                  2002

Justin Craker                               San Diego Padres                                2002