GARY, Ind. — Still three months away from the start of Spring Training, the Gary SouthShore RailCats roster is starting to come into focus and will once again include hard-hitting infielder Jeff Beachum, who today agreed to terms with the team on a contract for the 2010 season.

Beachum, 26, will once again be classified as a Northern League rookie after enjoying a breakout 2009 season that saw the Tennessee native set personal bests in every offensive category.  After an injury-plagued 2008 season, Beachum stayed healthy as a RailCat and batted .309 in 73 games – an average that would have placed in the top ten in the league in hitting with only four more plate appearances.  The former New York Yankees farmhand slugged .399 and carried a .372 on-base percentage, notching 14 doubles, two home runs and 31 RBI.  Also one of the most difficult hitters in the league to strike out, Beachum fanned only 21 times in 255 plate appearances.

A shortstop by trade, Beachum played primarily at first base and third base for the ‘Cats in 2009, his first career action at either position, and made the transition quickly.  In 34 games as a first baseman, Beachum committed only two errors.

Picked up by the RailCats via trade from the Frontier League’s Washington Wild Things before the start of the 2009 season, Beachum played in only 16 games for the Wild Things but still hit .294 and drove in eight runs.  Beachum did not play in 2007 after splitting time between four different Yankees affiliates in 2006 following his signing as an undrafted free agent.  Now a .277 career hitter, Beachum has driven in 50 runs in 127 professional games and struck out only 32 times against 35 walks.

An outstanding college player at Middle Tennessee State, Beachum broke the Sun Belt Conference and MTSU record for career hits (323) in leading the Blue Raiders to four straight league championship games.  Beachum also held program records for games played (225), runs scored (179), at bats (935) and total bases (415) while ranking among the school’s all-time leaders in a number of other categories.  A two-time All-Conference selection, Beachum earned All-Region honors as a senior in 2006.  In 2005, Beachum played on the MTSU infield alongside a pair of former RailCats – Eric McNamee and Todd Martin.

Beachum is the 10th RailCat to sign a contract for the 2010 season, joining fellow infielders Chris Carrara – who was also Beachum’s teammate in 2008 – and Mike Rohde, outfielders Mike Massaro and Adam Klein, 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 the team opens Spring Training on May 6.

Beachum will also be one of several RailCats stars of past and present at the second-annual Fan Fest, Saturday, February 20 from 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville.  Discount presale tickets for Fan Fest are on sale now by calling the RailCats at 219.882.2255 or visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com.