RAILCATS SIGN FREE AGENT PITCHER STEPHEN SPRAGG

 

December 3, 2007                                          Contact:  Tom Nichols at (219) 882-2255

 

Gary, Ind.—The 2007 Northern League Champion Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club announced today that right-handed pitcher Stephen Spragg has been signed as a free agent.  RailCats manager Greg Tagert made the announcement. 

 

Spragg, 24, pitched in the Netherlands in 2007.  He was acquired by the RailCats in November, 2006 in a trade with the Washington WildThings of the Frontier League, but was released prior to the '07 season so that he could pursue his opportunity in Europe. 

 

Spragg finished second in the Frontier League in earned run average in 2006 with Washington with a mark of 2.09.  He posted a record of 6-7 with four saves in 43 games out of the bullpen, finishing tied for third in the league in appearances. 

 

Spragg attended spring training in 2006 with the San Diego Padres.  He pitched with Washington in 2005, going 4-2, 2.72 with 12 saves in 36 games.  Spragg completed his college career in the spring of 2005 at Augusta State University in Georgia.

 

Tagert spoke highly of Spragg when the RailCats originally acquired him a year ago.

 

 "The thing I really like about Stephen is his ability to be effective in different parts of the game," said Tagert.  "He has closed games, he has pitched in set up situations, and he has pitched in middle relief.  He is the kind of pitcher that you can bring in to stop the momentum in the middle of an inning at any point of the game.  If the game reaches a key point, he can come in and be more of a stopper than a ninth inning closer."

 

Spragg is the second new addition to the RailCats roster since the end of the 2007 season.  The club signed rookie infielder Omar Padilla in November.  The RailCats continue to hold the 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.

 

More Info:  The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. The RailCats won the Northern League championship in 2005 and 2007 and for each of 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.

 

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