FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 30, 2018
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Chuck Weaver and acquired right-handed pitcher Myles Smith from the Kansas City T-Bones in exchange for the reversionary rights to left-handed pitcher Carlos Diaz on Thursday.
 
Weaver last pitched in 2016 with the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the Class-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, after missing all of 2017. Weaver won a career-high nine games two years ago with the Grasshoppers and posted a 3.02 ERA in 17 games (14 starts). In 83.1 innings, Weaver struck out 72 batters and allowed just 77 hits and 10 walks.

Weaver began the 2015 campaign with the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League before having his contract purchased by the Miami Marlins on August 21. Before getting signed by the Marlins, Weaver went 6-4 with two complete games, a save and a 3.22 ERA in a career-high 18 games (16 starts) for the Freedom. In 109 innings, the right-hander struck out a career-best 95 hitters and yielded just 106 hits and 27 walks. Weaver was assigned to the Batavia Muckdogs (Class-A, Short-Season) on August 22 and finished 0-2 with a 2.42 ERA in four games (three starts). In 22.1 innings, Weaver struck out 19 batters and walked just three.

In 2014, Weaver posted a 7-6 record with a complete game shutout and was named a Frontier League Mid-Season All-Star with Florence. The right-hander finished with a team-best 2.65 ERA in 17 starts and struck out 77 hitters while allowing just 93 hits and 28 walks over 108.2 innings.

Weaver signed his first professional contract with the Freedom on June 18, 2013, following his senior season at Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne University (IPFW). A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Weaver went 4-2 with a 3.70 ERA over 14 games (12 starts) in his first season of professional baseball.

Smith went 2-2 with a save and a 3.38 ERA in 44 relief appearances with the T-Bones last year. In 50.2 innings, the right-hander struck out 62 batters and held opposing hitters to a .236 batting average.

Smith began his professional baseball career in 2013 after getting drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the fourth round of the MLB Draft out of Lee University. Smith opened his pro career with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, finishing without a record and a 0.00 ERA in four starts before getting promoted to the Lowell Spinners (Class-A, Short-Season).

In 2014, Smith went 5-10 with a 5.82 ERA in 26 games (12 starts) for the Greenville Drive (Lo-A). Smith struck out a career-high 73 batters in a career-best 103.2 innings in his second season in Red Sox organization. On Dec. 12, 2014, Smith was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right-handed pitcher Zeke Spruill.

In 2015, pitched for four of the Diamondbacks affiliates (Hillsboro Hops, Class-A Short-Season; Kane County Cougars, Lo-A; Visalia Rawhide, Hi-A; Reno Aces, Triple-A). Smith recorded three saves with Hillsboro before going 2-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 11 relief appearances for Kane County. In 21.1 innings, Smith struck out 29 batters and allowed just 10 hits and nine walks for the Cougars.

Smith opened the 2016 season with the Mobile BayBears (Double-A), going 0-1 with a 4.78 ERA in 18 games (one start) before getting promoted to Reno. The right-hander made one appearance with the Aces before closing out the season with Visalia. A native of Detroit, Mich., Smith finished 1-2 with a save and a 3.04 ERA in 18 relief outings. Smith struck out 33 hitters and held opposing batters to a .233 average.

The Gary SouthShore RailCats open the 2018 season at U.S. Steel Yard on Friday, May 18th vs. the St. Paul Saints. 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.