AA Gary SouthShore Railcats

RailCats Release Opening Day Roster

Published on May 15, 2012 under American Association (AA)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release


GARY, Ind. - The 2012 RailCats return half of their roster from a team that finished 54-46 last season in the club's first season as a member of the American Association. The roster currently sits at 22 active players, and may be increased to a maximum of 23 for the first ten days of the season.

Outfielders Mike Massaro and Adam Klein will return to the team after their record-breaking campaigns in 2011. Massaro set RailCats single-season records in hits (142), at-bats (413), triples (16) and extra-base hits (45). His .344 batting average was 10th in the American Association and he was third in the league in hits. Massaro enters his fourth season with the "˜Cats as the franchise's all-time leader with a .320 batting average and 23 triples.

Klein, now in his third season with the club, set single-season franchise records with 75 runs and 71 walks a year ago. He led the team with a .423 on-base percentage and ranked in the top 15 in the American Association in runs, walks and OBP.

Newcomers Mike Coles and Jason James fill out what should be a very dangerous outfield for the "˜Cats. Coles is in his second stint with the RailCats after playing in Gary as a rookie in 2006. A local product of Hammond High and Purdue University, Coles is a two-time All-Star and has won four championships in his career. James is a three-time All-Star and one of the most accomplished hitters in Frontier League history, ranking in the top 10 all-time in hits and batting average.

First baseman Mike Rohde will return for his fifth season with the "˜Cats, coming off a season in which he set career highs in home runs, doubles and RBI. He led the RailCats with 32 doubles, which was sixth best in the league. He will be joined in the infield by former Major Leaguer Rico Washington, who played in nine games for the RailCats in 2011 after being traded from Kansas City. Washington was sixth in the league with 83 RBI.

Also returning to the infield mix are Chris Carrara, Brian Kolb and Kyle Haines. The club also acquired speedy middle infielder David Cooper in a trade with the Rockford RiverHawks. Cooper was third in the Frontier League with 42 stolen bases last season.

Catcher Craig Maddox split time behind the plate last season, his first with the RailCats. He produced when given the opportunity, boasting a .321 average, .380 on-base percentage and 21 RBI. Rookie Ryan Babineau will also spend time behind the plate.

On the mound, pitchers Nolan Nicholson, T.J. Wohlever and Will Krout return to the club. Nicholson spent time as both a starter and reliever, Wohlever joined the team late in the season, and Krout led the team with a 1.85 ERA out of the bullpen.

Veteran pitcher Andrew Johnston and former Cubs farmhand Mike Perconte will be part of the four-man starting rotation, with others to be announced. Chris Allen, Stephen Hiscock, and Chad Rhoades will bring experience to the staff, where they are joined by rookies Derek Johnson and Morgan Coombs.

The RailCats will open the season with a seven-game road trip that begins Thursday at 7:05 p.m. against the St. Paul Saints. The 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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