NL Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Reacquire Catcher Jose Yepez

Published on February 13, 2007 under Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


Gary, Ind. - The Gary SouthShore RailCats Professional Baseball Club announced today that catcher Jose Yepez (pronounced YEPP-ezz) has been acquired from the Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association in exchange for pitcher Hunter Davis. RailCats manager Greg Tagert made the announcement.

Yepez (pictured at left) spent the entire 2005 season with the RailCats and helped the club to the Northern League championship. He hit .291 with four home runs and 44 runs batted in while playing outstanding defense behind the plate.

Prior to the start of the 2006 season, the RailCats sold Yepez's contract to the Seattle Mariners organization. He was released by the Mariners at the conclusion of spring training, but with the RailCats set at the catcher position with veteran Chris Curry, Yepez signed with Pensacola, where he batted .283 with three homers and 34 RBI in 2006. Yepez, a native of Venezuela, spent seven years in the Toronto Blue Jays organization from 1998-2004.

Ironically, Curry was sold to the Kansas City Royals organization after the 2006 season, leading to the return of Yepez.

"When the opportunity came up to get Jose back in a RailCats uniform, we wanted to make this move," said Tagert. "Knowing what he did for us in 2005 and following that up with another good season in 2006, we are confident he with give us a big boost this season."

Hunter Davis never appeared in a game for the RailCats. He was acquired on November 15, 2006 from Traverse City of the Frontier League to complete an earlier trade in which the RailCats sent pitcher Buddy Klovstad to Traverse City for a player to be named later.

The RailCats also announced today that pitcher Stephen Spragg has been signed to a 2007 contract. Spragg's rights were acquired in November from Washington of the Frontier League after he finished second in the F.L. in earned run average in 2006 with a mark of 2.09. He went 6-7 with four saves in 43 games out of the bullpen.

RailCats 2007 ticket packages are available at U. S. Steel Yard or by calling (219) 882-2255.

More Info: The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a Professional Minor League Baseball Team serving Northwest Indiana and Chicago's south suburbs. For the last three years, they have been chosen "Best Local Spectator Sport" by Northwest Indiana Business Quarterly. Their 96 game schedule includes 47 home games at beautiful U. S. Steel Yard, an award-winning 6,000 seat state-of-the-art facility located next to the Indiana Toll Road (I-90) with easy access to I-65.

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Northern League Stories from February 13, 2007


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