FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 26, 2017
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

GARY, Ind. — The GarySouthShore RailCats announced earlier today that RHP Jorge De Leon has been activated from the disabled list and that RHP Ryan Fritze has been placed on the disabled list retroactive to Thursday, May 25.

Fritze is the first RailCats pitcher to record two wins and a save in his first three professional baseball appearances. Fritze has also retired 10 of the 11 hitters he’s faced this season.

Last season, De Leon went 0-2 with a 1.70 ERA and a team-high 11 saves in 21 relief appearances. De Leon is the only player on the RailCats roster to have appeared in the Major Leagues after making his MLB debut with the Houston Astros in 2013. De Leon finished the 2013 season 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 11 total relief appearances. The 29-year-old also became the first pitcher in over a century to retire the side on three pitches after setting the Cincinnati Reds down in order in the 12th inning on September 18, 2013.

De Leon made eight more relief appearances with the Astros in 2014, finishing without a record and a 4.91 ERA. After spending time in the MLB with Houston in 2013 and 2014, De Leon split time between Double-A and Triple-A in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins organizations in 2015, finishing 1-5 with two saves and a 4.75 ERA in 42 combined outings.

The right-hander began his professional career as a shortstop in 2006 after being signed by Houston out of Azua, D.R. De Leon converted to pitching in 2010, and before signing with Gary in 2016, spent a total of 10 seasons in the minors.

Gary hosts the Texas AirHogs from U.S. Steel Yard tonight for their home opener on Friday, May 26 at 7:10 p.m. LHP Jeff McKenzie (0-1, 6.00) opposes Texas’ RHP Carlos Contreras (0-1, 11.25) in the series opener. Friday’s game vs. the AirHogs is a Fifth Third Bank Fireworks Friday and features a free magnet schedule giveaway to the first 1,000 fans, courtesy of Great Lakes Orthopedics.