GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats have signed hard-throwing hurler Brandon Magee to a contract for the 2010 season, adding 79 career minor league starts to a rotation that already could include veterans Willie Glen and Zach McClellan, the team announced today.

Magee, 26, has made 38 starts over the last two seasons at New Hampshire (AA) in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, where he’s pitched since being drafted by the Jays in 2006.  A true workhorse, Magee finished in the top three in his league in innings pitched in 2007 (Florida State League) and 2008, and led the Eastern League in starts and complete games in 2008.  In four professional seasons, the right-hander is 25-29 with a 4.28 ERA in 443.1 innings.

An imposing presence on the mound at 6’5”, Magee was rated as the Blue Jays seventh-best prospect by Baseball America in 2007 and thrived in his first two professional seasons.  As a true rookie, Magee went 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA in 11 starts at short-season Auburn in 2006, then posted a 3.91 ERA and 9-8 record in 27 starts at Dunedin (A) in 2007.  After throwing 156.2 innings that summer, Magee came back to log 163.0 innings in 28 starts at New Hampshire in 2008 but appeared in only 16 games last season while splitting time between two stops.  The right-hander was released by Toronto this spring.

Magee was selected in the fourth round (120th overall) in the 2006 Major League Entry Draft out of Bradley University, where the Wisconsin product enjoyed a spectacular senior season.  Magee earned First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in 2006, going 8-4 with a 2.66 ERA and 101 strikeouts, becoming just the fourth Braves pitcher to ever record 100 strikeouts in a season.  A native of Sheboygan, Magee began his college career as Bradley’s closer before converting into a starter in 2005 when he picked up Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades.  Magee left Bradley second on the school’s all-time strikeout list.

The RailCats also Monday placed pitcher Alex Rollin on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of granting his unconditional release.  Rollin, 24, stared 2009 with the RailCats and made 16 appearances out of the bullpen before being dealt to the Frontier League.  The right-hander was returned to the ‘Cats earlier this offseason.

Magee becomes the 19th player and seventh pitcher to sign a contract for 2010, joining fellow hurlers Aaron Cook, Willie Glen, Zach McClellan, Andy Paulun, J.J. Potrikus and Andy Shipman; catchers Hank Lanto and Matt Lenski; infielders Jeff Beachum, Chris Carrara, Louis Ott, Jay Pecci and Mike Rohde; and outfielders Caleb Curry, Cristian Guerrero, Adam Klein, Mike Massaro and Mike Reese.  The RailCats expect to have at least 28 players in camp when the team opens Spring Training, Thursday, May 6 at U. S. Steel Yard.

The RailCats 2010 season begins Thursday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at U. S. Steel Yard when the Kansas City T-Bones come to town.  Single-game RailCats tickets go on sale Tuesday, April 20 at 10 a.m., and mini-plans, flex packages, group outings and season tickets are on sale now.  For more information or to order tickets, visit www.railcatsbaseball.com or call 219.882.2255.