RailCats trade Costa, sign Johnson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 17, 2017
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

GARY, Ind. — The GarySouthShore RailCats announced earlier today the trade of RHP Aryton Costa to the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League for a player to be named later and the signing of RHP Drasen Johnson.

Costa went 1-0 with a 2.36 ERA in six games (three starts) for Gary in 2016. Costa earned his first professional win in his last outing of the season, tossing 5.1 shutout innings against Joplin. Costa closed out his senior campaign with a 10-3 record and 2.05 ERA while leading the NAIA in innings pitched (110.2) as a senior at Antelope Valley University.

Johnson was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 26th round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of the University of Illinois. Johnson pitched for two seasons in the Rockies organization, reaching as high as Lo-A. In 2016, Johnson went 7-5 with a 4.34 ERA in 37 games (11 starts) for the Asheville Tourists. In 2015, Johnson went 2-4 with a 2.37 ERA in 15 games (four starts) for the Boise Hawks (Class-A Short Season).

Johnson earned ABCA First-Team All-Mideast and Second-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2015 as a redshirt senior at Illinois. Johnson went 10-3 with a 2.01 ERA in a team-high 16 starts. A native of Chillicothe, Ill., Johnson led the Big Ten in innings pitched (116.2) and finished tied for third in wins (10).

The RailCats season opener is on Thursday, May 18 against the St. Paul Saints. Jared Shlensky and Austin Anderson bring you all 100 RailCats games this season on WEFM (95.9 FM) and online at railcatsbaseball.com.

Gary’s home opener is on Friday, May 26 vs. the Texas Airhogs. Friday's game vs. the Airhogs is a Fifth Third Bank Fireworks Friday and features a free magnet schedule giveaway. The first 1,000 fans receive a free magnet schedule, courtesy of Great Lakes Orthopedics.

Fans can purchase tickets for RailCats home games by calling (219) 882-BALL or online at railcatsbaseball.com. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.