All Star Outfielder Mike Massaro returning to Cats in 2010

ALL-STAR OUTFIELDER MIKE MASSARO RETURNING TO ‘CATS IN 2010

GARY, Ind. — Gary SouthShore RailCats leadoff man Mike Massaro, who drilled a franchise-record 28 doubles and boasted the 10th-best average in the Northern League in 2009, will be back in the ‘Cats outfield in 2010 after today agreeing to terms on a contract for the upcoming season. The RailCats also came to terms with speedster Adam Klein, acquired via trade last month.

Massaro, 25, had the best season of his five-year professional career in 2009, batting .302 at the top of the RailCats lineup with a stellar .390 on-base percentage and career-high 53 RBI. The Colorado native was the ‘Cats best overall hitter last year, rapping 108 hits, scoring 69 runs, and adding four triples and three home runs to his record-setting and league-leading 28 doubles. Massaro also walked 54 times against just 36 strikeouts, stole 10 bases and even lifted seven sacrifice flies.

The former Triple-A outfielder for the Oakland Athletics came roaring out of the gate as a RailCat, beginning a 15-game hitting streak on May 18 and finishing the streak with a .394 average just three weeks into the season. Massaro was voted as a starter in the Northern League All-Star Game in July and followed that up with a blazing start to the second half that included 12 multi-hit games in an 18-game stretch from July 11-30. Massaro finished the year with 34 multi-hit games – including a pair of four-hit nights – and led the RailCats with 10 hits and a .294 average in the postseason.

Also one of the better defensive outfielders in the league, Massaro started 75 games in left for the ‘Cats and committed only two errors while racking up nine outfield assists. Massaro even got a chance to showcase his arm on the mound twice in 2009, working a pair of mop-up relief innings.

Originally selected in the 13th round of the 2005 Major League Entry Draft by the A’s, Massaro improved steadily throughout his four years in the Athletics system and was an All-Star for the Midwest League’s Kane County Cougars in 2007. The next year, Massaro played primarily at High-A Stockton but appeared in 24 games at Midland (AA) and hit .280 in 15 games for Triple-A Sacramento. A veteran of more than 400 minor league games, Massaro is a .286 lifetime hitter with a rock-solid .360 OBP.

Massaro starred for three years at Division II Colorado State-Pueblo where he was a three-time All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection. A native of Pueblo, Massaro made his Triple-A debut just outside his hometown against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and went 4-for-5 with a triple in his first Triple-A game.

Joining Massaro in the RailCats outfield this summer will be Klein, 26, another former Oakland Athletics farmhand. The two played together briefly at Double-A Midland in 2008, and were opponents in 2009 when Klein patrolled center field for the Joliet JackHammers. Klein was acquired by the RailCats from the Golden League’s Edmonton Capitals on January 22.

Massaro and Klein are the eighth and ninth RailCats to sign a contract for the 2010 season, joining infielders Mike Rohde and Chris Carrara, catcher Matt Lenski and pitchers Aaron Cook, Zach McClellan, Andy Paulun and J.J. Potrikus. The RailCats will have at least 28 players in camp when Spring Training opens on May 6 at U. S. Steel Yard.

The first look fans will have at the 2010 RailCats will be Saturday, February 20 at the team’s second-annual Fan Fest at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville. Current and former RailCats players and coaches will be on hand, and discount presale tickets are on sale now by visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com or calling 219.882.2255