GARY, IN. — After a rainy Spring Training camp, the Gary SouthShore RailCats have announced their 2010 Opening Day roster, picking the 23 players who will lead the team into U. S. Steel Yard May 20 against the Kansas City T-Bones.  The RailCats have also named veteran right-hander Willie Glen as their Opening Day starter.

As teams around the Northern League met the official roster deadline Monday night, the RailCats made the following moves to reach the league maximum of 23 players:

  • Signed LHP Tom Thornton and LHP Zeb Engle to 2010 contracts.
  • Signed C John Parham to a 2010 contract.
  • Placed LHP Andy Paulun, RHP J.J. Potrikus, RHP Brian Henschel, C Hank Lanto and OF Steve Haake on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of granting their unconditional release.

Thornton, 26, led the RailCats with eight wins in 2009 and will return to the club this summer, likely out of the bullpen.  The Notre Dame product had been in camp with the RailCats after the club picked up his 2010 option in October.

Engle, 23, was acquired by the RailCats Saturday from the River City Rascals of the Frontier League in the trade that sent OF Caleb Curry to River City.  The left-hander will make his pro debut in 2010 following a 2009 season in which he went a perfect 9-0 as a starter at Division III Ursinus (Pa.) College.

Parham, 22, will also make his professional debut in 2010, landing one of two catching jobs in one of the most competitive battles of training camp.  The California native played four seasons at Division I Cal State Northridge where he was an All-Conference selection as a junior.  Parham was first discovered by the RailCats at the Northern League/Golden League Open Tryout in Tucson, Arizona, April 12.

Haake was the only of the five releases to have played for the RailCats, spending the last five seasons in Gary.  The outfielder was not in camp with the team and is undecided on his professional future.  The RailCats wish Haake the best of luck in his future endeavors following an outstanding run in a RailCats uniform both on and off the field.

Glen, 32, will make his third Opening Day start for the RailCats on Thursday after a nearly flawless spring in which the right-hander threw eight scoreless innings.  Glen led the RailCats to Opening Day wins in 2006 and 2007 – the only two Opening Day wins in RailCats history (the team is 2-6 overall) – before spending the last two summers in the Florida Marlins organization.

The RailCats final Opening Day roster includes 11 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and four outfielders.  For a complete roster and bio information on all 23 players, visit www.railcatsbaseball.com.

Tickets to see the RailCats during the season-opening six-game homestand are now on sale by calling 219.882.2255 or visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com.  The ‘Cats opening homestand is packed with giveaways, including Collectable Coin Giveaway (1,500 fans, Thursday), Joe Gates Plaque Giveaway (1,500 fans, Friday), Fleece Blanket Giveaway (1,000 fans, Saturday) and Adult T-Shirt Giveaway (1,000 adults age 18 and up, Sunday).

Opening Roster:

Pitchers
# Name B T HT WT Birthdate Resides Status
James Baker L R 6’1″ 190 12/30/83 Boxford, Mass. LS-2
Aaron Cook R R 6’5″ 180 10/20/83 Rockledge, Fla. LS-2
Zeb Engle L L 6’0″ 180 10/8/86 Spring City, Pa. Rookie
Brad Furnish S L 6’2″ 200 1/19/85 Fort Worth, Texas LS-3
Willie Glen R R 6’1″ 185 10/30/77 Avon, Ind. Veteran
Brad Halsey L L 6’1″ 200 2/14/81 New Braunfels, Texas LS-5
Brandon Magee R R 6’5″ 215 7/26/83 Sheboygan, Wis. LS-3
Zach McClellan R R 6’5″ 225 11/25/78 Bloomington, Ind. Veteran
Andy Shipman R R 6’3″ 185 12/10/81 Kansas City, Mo. LS-5
Tom Thornton L L 6’6″ 235 10/30/83 Middleboro, Mass. LS-1
Ryan Zink R R 6’5″ 230 4/1/85 Madison, Wis. LS-2
Catchers
# Name B T HT WT Birthdate Resides Status
Yuki Matsumoto R R 6’0″ 190 5/24/84 Takasaki, Gunma, Japan Rookie
John Parham R R 5’10” 190 8/18/87 Rialto, Calif. Rookie
Infielders
# Name B T HT WT Birthdate Resides Status
Jeff Beachum R R 6’0″ 195 11/5/83 Cordova, Tenn. Rookie
Chris Carrara R R 5’10” 180 5/11/85 Charlotte, N.C. LS-1
Louis Ott S R 5’11” 185 2/22/85 Novato, Calif. LS-4
Jay Pecci S R 5’11” 190 9/26/76 Novato, Calif. Veteran
Mike Rohde L R 6’3″ 210 9/27/83 Brookfield, Wis. LS-2
Tanner Townsend R R 6’1″ 215 7/30/80 London, Ky. LS-5
Outfielders
# Name B T HT WT Birthdate Resides Status
Cristian Guerrero R R 6’5″ 220 7/12/80 Newark, Del. Veteran
Adam Klein L L 5’11” 175 8/21/83 Los Angeles, Calif. LS-1
Mike Massaro L L 5’11” 185 4/15/84 Pueblo, Colo. LS-3
Mike Reese R R 5’10” 195 8/1/81 Winter Park, Fla. LS-4
Disabled List
# Name B T HT WT Birthdate Resides Status
This roster is not available.
Inactive List
# Name B T HT WT Birthdate Resides Status
This roster is not available.

Gary Southshore RailCats



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