GARY, IN 1-5-2011 – Catcher John Parham will return to Northwest Indiana as a member of the Gary SouthShore RailCats for the 2011 season it was announced today.

Parham, 22, appeared in 60 games for the RailCats in 2010 after beating out other would-be RailCats in Spring Training. The Rookie showed flashes of being a very solid player while also struggling at times in his first season in professional baseball which included a stint on the disabled list with a wrist injury. Parham split time behind the plate in 2010 and finished the year with a .239 batting average adding three homers and 25 RBI, in addition to throwing out 12 of the 83 (14.5%) runners attempting to steal against him.

Parham came to the RailCats following an excellent four-year career at Cal State Northridge.  A California native, Parham was an Honorable Mention All-Big West Conference selection for the Matadors in 2008, hitting .348 with six home runs, 32 RBI and a .426 on-base percentage.  Parham was a full-time starter his last two seasons at Northridge, batting .260 in 2009 as a senior.  Also a gifted defensive player, Parham threw out nearly 25% of runners trying to steal against him over his final two years.

In early 2010, Parham signed with the Traverse City Beach Bums before the Seattle Mariners came calling and purchased the young catcher’s contract from the Frontier League.  Parham was released by the Mariners and attended the Northern League/Golden League Open Tryout in Tucson, Arizona on April 12, where he was signed by the RailCats.

The addition of Parham gives the RailCats seven players under contract for the 2011 season joining pitcher Nolan Nicholson infielders Chris Carrara and Brian Kolb and outfielders Adam Klein, Mike Massaro and Cody McMorris. All six will be part of an at least 28-man squad when the RailCats open Spring Training on April 30 at U. S. Steel Yard.

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