RailCats Retain Rights to 23 Players; Samuels Becomes Free Agent
November 2, 2005 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
Gary, Ind.-The 2005 Northern League Champion Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club today retained rights to 23 players for the 2006 season.
Meanwhile, the RailCats declined to retain the rights to outfielder Scott Samuels as part of an agreement reached with Samuels prior to the 2005 season. The veteran outfielder is now a free agent.
The RailCats retained the rights for 2006 to 20 players off their 22-man playoff roster. They include starting pitchers Willie Glen, Jamie Bennett, Cody Fisher, and Mike Schaefer; relief pitchers Derek Lopez, Travis Kerber, Greg Bruso, Randy Vanderplow, John Gonzalez, and Tim Alvarez; catcher Jose Yepez and Alex Taylor; infielders Ben Risinger, Jay Pecci, Tanner Townsend, and Eric McNamee; and outfielders Anthony Iapoce, Fehlandt Lentini, Steve Haake, and John Schmitz.
The RailCats also retained the rights to three players currently on their inactive list. They are outfielders David Weiner and Dale Mueller, who are both expected to play in 2006, and pitcher Dominic Woody, who has retired.
Infielder Curt Lee played out his option and became a free agent following the season and joins Samuels as the two members of the RailCats Championship roster no longer under the team's control.
Samuels was promised that he would be allowed to enter free agency following the 2005 season as part of his contract agreement with the RailCats last spring. Samuels played in 70 of the RailCats 96 games and batted .254 with seven home runs and 42 runs batted in with 20 stolen bases. He also spent part of the 2004 season with the RailCats.
The RailCats begin defense of their 2005 Championship on May 18th at Calgary and begin the home schedule on May 26th. For RailCats 2006 season ticket information or RailCats championship merchandise, call (219) 882-BALL (2255).
More Info: The 2005 Northern League Champion Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. For the last two 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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Northern League Stories from November 2, 2005
- RailCats Retain Rights to 23 Players; Samuels Becomes Free Agent - Gary SouthShore Railcats
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