RailCats Sell Contract of Tim Byrdak to San Diego Padres
December 16, 2003 - Northern League (NL)
Gary SouthShore Railcats News Release
GARY â The Gary SouthShore RailCats (Northern League) have sold the contract of veteran pitcher Tim Byrdak to the San Diego Padres, the RailCats announced today.
Byrdak, 30, went 4-5 with a 3.78 ERA in 15 Northern League starts in 2003. Byrdak, who started the 2003 campaign with rival Joliet, went 2-4, 4.34 ERA in 11 starts after being traded to the RailCats on July 2.
Byrdak's 2003 season highlights included:
-- Making his RailCats debut on the Fourth of July at U. S. Steel Yard, allowing just three runs over eight innings.
-- Working at least eight innings in six of his 15 starts, going 3-1, 2.40 ERA in those games.
-- Facing 77-year-old Minnie Minoso leading off the game at St. Paul on July 16th. Byrdak walked Minoso on a borderline 3-2 pitch. The plate appearance marked Minoso's seventh decade of professional baseball, and Byrdak was quoted in the "Scorecard" section of Sports Illustrated on his impressions on facing the former White Sox star.
-- Working eight shutout innings in the RailCats 6-0 blanking of
Winnipeg in the rubber game of a series at U. S. Steel yard on August 17.
-- Going the route for the first time since his "Tommy John" surgery in a 1-0 loss to Winnipeg in the second game of a doubleheader at Winnipeg on August 28.
Byrdak, who attended Oak Forest (IL) High School, South Suburban College (South Holland, Ill.), and Rice University (Houston, TX), was originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 5th round of the June 1994 draft, and played parts of three major league seasons with the Royals in 1998, 1999, and 2000. After being granted free agency in 2000, Byrdak signed with the Cleveland Indians, but suffered an injury and underwent "Tommy John" surgery (left elbow reconstruction) in June 2001. Byrdak rehabbed with the Indians and made 11 minor league appearances in 2002 before being released and signing with Joliet last February.
Byrdak's contract is the third sold by the RailCats to the Padres this off-season. The Padres purchased the contracts of rookie pitchers Sazi Guthrie and Jake Upwood on September 26.
The RailCats have now sold five player contracts to major league organizations since 2001.
Northern League Stories from December 16, 2003
- Holiday Shopping? Why Not The Meat Locker - Kansas City Monarchs
- RailCats Sell Contract of Tim Byrdak to San Diego Padres - Gary SouthShore Railcats
- Saltdogs Update - Lincoln Saltdogs
- Silver Cross Field Among the Elite - Joliet JackHammers
- RedHawks Release 2004 Schedule - Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
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