NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Add One, Release Two as Spring Training Begins

Published on May 1, 2009 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - On the day the Gary SouthShore RailCats officially usher in the 2009 baseball season, the team has made a series of roster moves, signing pitcher Jon Mueller, and placing pitcher Nate Hoelscher and outfielder John McCarthy on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of granting those players their release. McCarthy intends to retire.

The signing gives the RailCats 27 players on their roster at the start of camp. The RailCats must trim their roster to 22 players by the end of Spring Training, May 13.

Mueller, 24, is the younger brother of former RailCats outfielder Dale Mueller, and has spent the last three seasons pitching in the Chicago Cubs organization. A hard-throwing righty, Mueller pitched briefly at the Double-A and Triple-A level during his debut year, but spent the bulk of the 2006 season at Peoria (A), going 0-1 with a 4.24 ERA and tidy 1.26 WHIP. After beginning 2007 at High-A Daytona, Mueller missed the second half of the season with an injury. The La Crosse, Wis. native returned to Peoria in 2008 and made 21 relief appearances, posting a 5.35 ERA.

Mueller was selected in the 16th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Entry Draft but did not sign with the Cubs until just before the start of the 2006 season. Mueller played one year collegiately at both Butler (2003) and Minnesota (2005), putting up an impressive 2.86 ERA for the Golden Gophers as a sophomore.

McCarthy, 24, had a career season for the RailCats in 2008, batting .289 with 25 RBI and 19 stolen bases in his first year in the Northern League. One of the fastest players on the circuit, McCarthy swiped 19 bases in his 73 games and struck out only 24 times in 239 at bats. The left-handed McCarthy began his professional career with Windy City in 2006 and helped the Thunderbolts to a Frontier League Championship the next season.

Hoelscher, 29, gave the RailCats bullpen a major boost early in the 2008 season and made 22 total appearances for the ‘Cats before being transferred to the inactive list in early August. Hoelscher picked up six saves in those 22 outings and also saved the Northern League All-Star Game for the Chicagoland team. A seven-year veteran, Hoelscher pitched in the Kansas City Royals organization from 2002-07, spending the entire 2007 campaign at Triple-A Omaha.

The RailCats open Spring Training today, May 1, and will play eight games during the exhibition season, starting Tuesday, May 5 at Joliet. The RailCats open the 2009 regular season at home Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. also against the JackHammers. Tickets for that game and every game this season are on sale now by stopping by the U. S. Steel Yard Box Office, calling 219.882.2255 or visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com.

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Northern League Stories from May 1, 2009


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