NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Re-Sign Jay Pecci and Eric McNamee at Fan Fest

February 23, 2009 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - Fans at the Gary SouthShore RailCats First-Ever Fan Fest got a treat late Saturday afternoon when veteran shortstop Jay Pecci and second baseman Eric McNamee signed contracts for the 2009 season, keeping the ‘Cats middle infield intact for the fifth consecutive year.

McNamee and Pecci signed their contracts during Fan Fest's Closing Ceremony, putting their names alongside Manager Greg Tagert's while a crowd of RailCats fans looked on. The duo become just the second and third players to appear in five different seasons for the RailCats - joining Travis Kerber (2004-08) - and Pecci will become the first RailCats player to appear on the Opening Day roster five years in a row.

Between the two, Pecci and McNamee have played in 640 RailCats games since 2005 and collected 668 hits. Both won Northern League Championships with the ‘Cats in 2005 and 2007, and both have been named to multiple Northern League All-Star Teams.

The 2009 season will be Pecci's 12th in professional baseball since being selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 11th round of the 1998 Major League Entry Draft. A Stanford graduate, Pecci played in two College World Series with the Cardinals and was a First Team All-Conference honoree as a senior. Pecci spent four years in the Oakland farm system before being selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 2001 Rule 5 Minor League draft, reaching Triple-A Tacoma for the Mariners in 2003. The next season, Pecci played for Norwich (AA) in the San Francisco Giants organization.

A leader on and off the field, Pecci has been a near constant in the RailCats lineup since both he and Tagert arrived in 2005. The California native has played in at least 85 games in each of his four seasons and has at least 94 hits each of the last three years. Pecci is coming off arguably his best season as a professional in 2008 when he batted .317 and collected a franchise-record 115 hits despite playing 85 games. Pecci also cracked a career-high nine home runs last season and drove in 48 runs, one shy of a career high he set in 125 games in Midland (AA) in 2001.

Pecci, 32, is the RailCats career leader in hits (391) and at bats (1,375), and boasts a .284 career average with the ‘Cats. Pecci has been named to the Northern League's Mid-Season All-Star Team each of the last three years, earning Most Valuable Player honors at the 2008 game. Following the 2008 season, Pecci was named to the league's Post-Season All-Star team for the first time.

McNamee, 26, has spent his entire professional career with the RailCats, joining the club in June 2005 immediately following his senior season at Middle Tennessee State. After splitting time at second base, third base and shortstop in 2005, McNamee took over the full-time job at second base in 2006 and has remained there ever since.

A slick fielder and extremely patient hitter, McNamee also had his best season in 2008, setting personal bests with a .302 average, 14 doubles and an impressive .396 on base percentage. Despite missing time with a hand injury, McNamee still played in 75 games and piled up 89 hits and 51 walks, putting the Tennessee native on base an average of nearly twice per game.

McNamee walked 22 more times than his struck out in 2008 (51-29), continuing a trend that spans his professional career. A feisty hitter, McNamee has struck out only 133 times in four seasons and his .379 career on base percentage is second in RailCats history. McNamee also ranks in the top four in team history in games played (283), hits (277), runs scored (163) and walks (178). McNamee has been a Northern League Mid-Season All-Star each of the last two seasons.

The signings of McNamee and Pecci ensure the RailCats will return three of their four starting infielders from last season, a group that includes 2008 Northern League Rookie of the Year Mike Rohde at first base. The ‘Cats have also inked pitchers Brian Halford and Garret Holleran along with infielders Paul Bartolucci and Isaac Omura for 2009. The RailCats will have at least 28 players in camp when Spring Training begins May 1.

The RailCats open the 2009 season at home Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. against the Joliet JackHammers. Season tickets, group outings, mini-plans and flex tickets are now on sale by calling the RailCats at 219.882.2255. Don't miss your chance to experience the RailCats Tradition of Excellence in 2009 at U. S. Steel Yard.

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Northern League Stories from February 23, 2009


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