FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2018
Contact: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]

GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats signed right-handed pitcher Scott Plaza and placed right-handed pitcher Brendan Jenkins on irrevocable waivers before Wednesday’s game against Sioux Falls.

Plaza made one start for the Hollywood Stars of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball in 2018 before signing with Gary. Last season, Plaza went 5-2 with a 4.52 ERA in 13 starts with the Sonoma Stompers of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball. In a career-high 81.2 innings, Plaza allowed 41 runs on 83 hits and 35 walks and struck out a career-best 68 hitters.

A native of Arlington Heights, Ill., Plaza began his professional baseball career with the RailCats sister club, the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League, in 2015. Plaza went 0-4 with one complete game and a 7.45 ERA in six games (five starts) with the Boomers. In 29 innings, Plaza yielded 24 earned runs on 35 hits and 10 walks and struck out 13.

Before beginning his professional baseball career, Plaza was a two-time First Team All-WIAC (Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Association) selection in 2013 and 2014 at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. As a senior in 2014, Plaza won an NCAA Division III National Championship for the Warhawks and was named the D3baseball.com Most Outstanding Player of the World Series. Plaza was also named an ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) First Team All-Region selection after going 9-2 with five complete games and a 2.53 ERA in 14 games (13 starts).  In 96 innings pitched as a senior, Plaza yielded just 27 earned runs on 92 hits and 16 walks and struck out 85 batters.

Jenkins signed his first professional baseball contract with Gary following his redshirt-senior season at the University of San Francisco on June 16th and went 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA in nine relief appearances. In 12 innings, Jenkins allowed eight earned runs on 17 hits and four walks and struck out five batters. Jenkins retired five of the six batters he faced over 1.2 scoreless innings in his pro debut on June 16th vs. the Sioux City Explorers.

Gary resumes their six-game homestand and three-game series against Sioux Falls on Tuesday. LHP Alex Gunn (5-3, 4.23) makes his league-high-tying 14th start for the RailCats while the Canaries send RHP Miles Nordgren (0-2, 4.20). Tuesday’s game is another Taco Tuesday, featuring $2 beef tacos and $5 margaritas, and CHN Tuesday. Tuesday’s contest is also Strike Out Stroke, presented by Methodist Hospitals & Genentech.

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.