FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2018
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada — The Gary SouthShore RailCats signed outfielder Ronnie Mitchell to his first Independent Professional Baseball contract before Friday’s series opener against the back-to-back American Association Champion Winnipeg Goldeyes and placed right-handed pitcher Brendan Jenkins on the 7-Day Disabled List retroactive to Wednesday, July 11th.

Mitchell resumes his professional baseball career after last playing two seasons ago in the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins minor league systems. A native of Southlake, Texas, Mitchell began his professional baseball career in 2013 with the Tri-City ValleyCats (Class-A, Short-Season) after getting selected in the 38th round of the 2013 MLB Draft out of Dallas Baptist University. In 59 games with Tri-City, Mitchell batted .256 with 22 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 30 RBIs, 18 walks and six stolen bases.

The following season, Mitchell hit .285/.360/.498/.858 with 39 runs, 12 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs, 46 RBIs, 29 walks and five stolen bases with the Quad Cities River Bandits (Class-A) before getting promoted to the Lancaster JetHawks (Hi-A) later in the 2014 season. Mitchell went on to win a California League Championship with Lancaster and batted .248 with 12 runs, five doubles, three home runs, 11 RBIs and 12 walks in 27 games with the JetHawks

Mitchell returned to Lancaster in 2015, batting .286/.356/.496/.852 with 57 runs, 27 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs, 72 RBIs, 45 walks and three stolen bases in 11 games. In 2016, Mitchell began the season with the Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros), hitting .121 (4-for-33) with four runs, a homer, four RBIs, and two walks before signing a minor league free agent contract with the Miami Marlins. Between the Jupiter Hammerheads (Hi-A) and Jacksonville Suns (Double-A), Mitchell hit a combined .300 with a .375 on-base percentage, 31 runs, 14 doubles, five home runs, 22 RBIs, 24 walks and three stolen bases in 66 games.

Jenkins signed his first professional baseball contract with Gary following his redshirt-senior season at the University of San Francisco on June 16th and was 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA in relief appearances. Jenkins retired five of the six batters he faced over 1.2 scoreless innings of relief in professional baseball debut on June 16th vs. Sioux City and recorded his first pro win and strikeout in the resumption of the May 31st (Game 2) Suspended Game vs. the Chicago Dogs on June 27th with two scoreless innings of relief.

Prior to signing with Gary, Jenkins was named to the West Coast Conference (WCC) Honorable Mention All-Academic Team as a redshirt-senior at USF after posting a 2-2 record, a team-best 10 saves and a 2.00 ERA in a team-high 30 relief appearances. The 23-year-old struck out 61 batters in 52 innings and help opposing hitters to a .215 batting average.

Gary begins their six-game, seven-day road trip on Friday at 7 p.m. against the Winnipeg Goldeyes in Canada. RHP Gabe Perez (1-0, 4.24) makes his third start for the RailCats in the series opener against Goldeyes recently acquired RHP Tyler Herron (4-5, 7.33).

Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Friday, July 20th vs. the St. Paul Saints. Friday’s game is Kevin “Bacon” Night and includes bacon-themed concession specials, as well as another Fifth Third Bank Fireworks Friday.

Jared Shlensky and Brennan Mense bring you all 100 RailCats game this season on WEFM (95.9 FM) and online at railcatsbaseball.com. Ticket packages for the 2018 Gary SouthShore RailCats season are available online at
railcatsbaseball.com and can also be purchased by calling the RailCats ticket line at (219) 882-BALL. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.