Former UIC Standout Ryan Zink Signs With RailCats
April 22, 2010 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY, Ind. - The Gary SouthShore RailCats have added yet another polished pitcher to their 2010 staff, today agreeing to terms with one-time UIC standout Ryan Zink, a former New York Yankees farmhand who earned All-America honors as a freshman starter for the Flames.
Zink, 25, was a bona fide phenom at UIC and has made his mark the last three seasons working in the Yankees minor league chain. A tall, powerful sinker-ball pitcher (6'5", 230 lbs.), Zink put together two solid seasons out of the bullpen before the Yankees converted him back to a starter in 2009 at High-A Tampa. In three professional seasons, Zink is 18-15 with a 4.11 ERA and has shown excellent control with only 80 walks in 234.1 innings. Zink has held opposing hitters to a .273 average and piled up 177 career strikeouts.
Originally selected in the 17th round of the 2007 Major League Entry Draft, Zink's best professional season came in 2008 when the Wisconsin native posted a 2.42 ERA at Charleston (A) in 25 appearances, including four spot starts. Zink allowed only 43 hits and 14 walks in 52.0 IP that summer, putting together a 1.10 WHIP and holding opposing hitters to a .224 average. Last season, Zink was a workhorse in the Tampa Yankees rotation, making 25 starts and logging a career-high 135.0 innings, finishing 9-12 with a 5.07 ERA.
One of the Midwest's best prospects coming out of Madison's La Follette High School, Zink was named the Gatorade Wisconsin Player of the Year in 2003 and burst onto the scene as a freshman at UIC in 2004. Zink was the Flames' best pitcher that spring, going 9-3 with a 2.07 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, striking out 13 in his first start and throwing the 10th no-hitter in UIC history May 16, 2004 against Youngstown State. After the season, Zink earned First Team All-Horizon League honors, was a CollegeInsider.com Honorable Mention All-American and was named to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America team.
Zink followed up that season with a strong sophomore campaign, picking up Second Team All-Horizon League accolades and earning Most Valuable Player honors in leading the Flames to the Horizon League Tournament Championship. That offseason, however, Zink underwent "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow and missed the entire 2006 season. Zink came back strong in 2007, especially late, closing the year with a bang when he fired eight innings of one-hit ball against #16 Long Beach State in the 2007 NCAA Regionals, leading UIC to a 4-1 win, the program's first ever in the NCAA postseason.
Zink becomes the 21st RailCats player to sign a contract for the 2010 season and eighth pitcher, joining a staff that includes signees Aaron Cook, Willie Glen, Brandon Magee, Zach McClellan, Andy Paulun, J.J. Potrikus and Andy Shipman. The RailCats will have at least 28 players in camp when the team begins Spring Training, Thursday, May 6.
The RailCats start the 2010 season Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard against the Kansas City T-Bones. Single-game tickets are on sale now by calling 219.882.2255 or visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com. For a complete 50-game regular season schedule and list of the RailCats great promotions and giveaways, visit www.railcatsbaseball.com.
Northern League Stories from April 22, 2010
- Northern League Transactions - NL
- JackHammers Send Pacella To RedHawks For Justice - Joliet JackHammers
- Former UIC Standout Ryan Zink Signs With RailCats - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Three-time All-Star James back with RiverHawks - Rockford RiverHawks
- RedHawks Sign Corsaletti, Acquire Pacella for Justice - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
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