NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

Hard-Hitting Outfielder Mike Reese Returning To RailCats

Published on April 14, 2010 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - Outfielder Mike Reese - the owner of a 2007 Northern League Championship Ring and the man with the highest batting average in Gary SouthShore RailCats history - is returning to U. S. Steel Yard after a one-year hiatus, today agreeing to terms on a contract with the 'Cats for the 2010 season.

Reese, 28, hit .297 in two years with the RailCats before taking last season off to complete his Masters degree in education. The 2010 season will be Reese's sixth in professional baseball, and the slugging veteran has hit at every stop, boasting a .303 career batting average and .402 lifetime on-base percentage. Both a power and speed threat, Reese was a two-time Frontier League All-Star while a member of the Richmond (Ind.) Roosters from 2004-05.

After coming to the RailCats from Traverse City of the Frontier League before the start of the 2007 season, Reese led the league-champion 'Cats that year in slugging (.457) and on-base percentage (.391), hitting .280 in 59 games. One year later, Reese earned nearly 100 more at bats as more of a regular in the lineup and his numbers improved, with a .308 average, seven home runs, eight stolen bases and a .407 on-base percentage.

Reese's 2008 season also included several memorable moments, including a dramatic two-run eighth inning home run on July 29 in Winnipeg that capped the largest comeback in RailCats history - from 9-1 down after five innings to an eventual 14-10 win. That home run kick-started a huge second half of the season for Reese, who finished the year on a team-record 22-game hitting streak that started back on July 29.

In his two years in Gary, Reese not only has the highest batting average of any player (three ten-thousandths of a point ahead of once and future teammate Mike Rohde), he also carries the all-time best on-base percentage (.401) and on-base plus slugging (855). His RailCats slugging percentage is second (.454) on the all-time list, behind only Cristian Guerrero. In 217 RailCats games, Reese has 127 hits including 19 doubles, six triples and 12 home runs.

A four-year star at Division II Rollins College, Reese began his pro career in 2004 with Richmond and had a phenomenal season, hitting .319 with 42 RBI and stealing 32 bases. After blasting a career-high 10 home runs and hitting a career-best .328 in 2005 for the Roosters, Reese moved to Traverse City in 2006 and stole a career-high 33 bases. Reese's on-base percentage has been .383 or better in each of his five professional seasons and has collected 114 career extra-base hits.

Reese has served as an assistant coach at Rollins during each of the seven seasons since his graduation, and is continuing to work with the Tars this spring as he completes his student teaching and earns his post-graduate degree.

Reese is the 18th RailCat to sign a contract for the upcoming season, joining fellow outfielders Caleb Curry, Cristain Guerrero, Adam Klein and Mike Massaro; infielders Jeff Beachum, Chris Carrara, Louis Ott, Jay Pecci and Mike Rohde; catchers Hank Lanto and Matt Lenski; and pitchers Aaron Cook, Willie Glen, Zach McClellan, Andy Paulun, J.J. Potrikus and Andy Shipman. The RailCats will have at least 28 players in camp when Spring Training begins May 6 at U. S. Steel Yard.

Reese and the RailCats open the 2010 season Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m. against the Kansas City T-Bones. For information on season tickets, group outings, mini-plans and the RailCats packed promotional schedule, call 219.882.2255 or log on to www.railcatsbaseball.com.

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Northern League Stories from April 14, 2010


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