GARY, IN –The Gary South Shore RailCats dove head first into the off season today by announcing two trades as the club looks to add depth for the 2017 season in both the pitching staff and the outfield.

The RaiCats first order of business was to send INF Jared Mederos to the Sussex County Miners in the CAN-AM League in exchange for RHP Joe Donino. The RailCats also announced to completion of a previous trade with the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League with the Freedom sending LHP Braulio Torres-Perez and OF Shaun Cooper to the RailCats.

RHP Joe Donino helped guide Columbia University to back-to-back Ivy League titles while pitching for the Lions in 2013 and 2014. After a standout career in New York City the right hander was part of the CAN-AM League Champions in Rockland in 2014, going 5-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 56.1 innings as a starter. Donino, then spent one year with the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, making two stops at Rookie-level Arizona and at short-season Hillsboro before a return to the CAN-AM League and Sussex County in 2016. Donino made 19 starts last season, posting a 3-10 record in 104.1 innings with a 5.95 ERA for the Miners. 

LHP Braulio Torres-Perez makes his return to the SouthShore after making his professional debut last season with the RailCats. Torres-Perez signed with the RailCats on July 25th and appeared in two games for Gary, working 2.2 innings with a 6.75 ERA. The RailCats then sent Torres-Perez to Florence for a player to be named on August 4th where he went 4-0 with a 3.21 ERA in seven games, including five starts for the Freedom in 33.2 innings. The lefty out of Auburn, Washington had a stellar college career, including posting an 11-1 record with a 2.72 ERA his senior year, helping guide the Bellevue (Nebraska) Bruins to the final four of the NAIA College World Series.

OF Shaun Cooper started last season with Old Orchard Beach of the Empire League before being inked by Florence on July 20th of last season. While with the Freedom, Cooper hit .313 in 26 games with a pair of home runs, 12 RBIs while stealing nine bases. Cooper spent 2012 with Yakima in the Northwest League for the Arizona Diamondbacks and 2014 with Traverse City of the Frontier League. In 110 minor league games, Cooper has a career batting average of .240.

The RailCats part with Jared Mederos who was originally acquired on August 17, 2015, as part of a three player trade with the Laredo Lemurs. The Florida native and St. Johns University product played in 109 games in parts of two seasons with the RailCats, hitting .268 in 2016 with two homers and 38 RBIs.

2017 will mark the 16th season of RailCats Baseball in Northwest Indiana and the club will also celebrate 15 years playing at their current home “The Steel Yard”. Season tickets are now on sale as well as sponsorship opportunities for the 2017 RailCats season. Visit RAILCATSBASEBALL.COM or call (219) 882-2255 for more information.