AA Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Pick up Option on Haines, Two Others; Sign Pitcher

Published on May 1, 2012 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - The RailCats have announced the signing of pitcher Stephen Hiscock. They have also picked up the options on infielder Kyle Haines and pitchers Scott Kelley and Phillip Bartleski.

Hiscock, 24, has spent the past two seasons in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. After signing as a non-drafted free agent in 2010, he spent his time between Short-Season Hudson Valley and Class-A affiliate Bowling Green. He combined for a 4-5 record with a 4.47 ERA in 59 relief appearances.

The 6-foot-2 right-hander is from Waterbury, Connecticut and played his college ball at Division II Rollins College, where he posted a 7-2 record with a 3.67 ERA as a senior.

Haines, 29, returns for his second season with the RailCats after having an impressive 2011 season. The infielder hit .309 in 70 games and posted a .406 on-base percentage. The Lousiville, Illinois native played primarily shortstop, hitting one home run and knocking in 24 RBI. His 15 doubles tied a career high.

Haines spent seven minor league seasons between the San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Indians organizations. He was drafted in the 31st round by the Giants in 2004 and dominated in his first assignment for the Arizona League Giants, hitting .339 and earning a quick call-up to Class-A Short-Season Salem-Kaizer. Haines made it as high as Double-A with the Giants, being named an Eastern League Mid-Season All-Star for the Connecticut Defenders.

Haines spent 2009 in the Indians organization, playing with Class-A Kinston before being called up to Double-A Akron. He then signed with the Camden Riversharks of the Independent Atlantic League.

Kelley is a 6-foot-2 right-hander whom the RailCats acquired in March to complete a 2010 trade with the Evansville Otters of the Frontier League. The 2009 23rd round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals featured in the Evansville rotation in 2011, making 19 starts. He finished with a 6-6 record and a 5.64 ERA. His 104 strikeouts in 99 innings of work put him seventh in the entire Frontier League.

Kelley, 25, is a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois. He was at Class-A Burlington in 2010, where he was 1-3 with a 3.84 ERA and three saves. He combined for a 1-3 record and 1.94 ERA and three saves in 2009, pitching mostly for the Royals rookie league affiliates.

Bartleski, 29, was selected by the RailCats in the Fort Worth Dispersal Draft on October 26, 2011. He split last season between the Fort Worth Cats of the American Association and the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League. In 2011 with the Cats, he went 5-4 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 games, 12 of which were starts. He appeared in seven games (2 starts) with the Jackals, going 1-1 with a 10.57 ERA.

Bartleski, a Charlottesville, Virginia native, signed with the New York Yankees organization in 2007 as a non-drafted free agent. In 2008 at Class-A Tampa, he made 29 relief appearances, going 2-1 and posting a stellar 1.64 ERA. He struck out 60 batters in 55 innings. He pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for four minor league seasons and made it as high as Double-A Trenton in 2009.

Gary has signed 28 players for the 2012 season. The active roster must be cut down to 22 before the start of the regular season.

The RailCats Home Opener is on Friday, May 25 at 7:10 p.m. against the Wichita Wingnuts at U. S. Steel Yard.

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