FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 25, 2019
CONTACT: Jared Shlensky
[email protected]
LINCOLN, NEB. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats activated right-hander David Griffin from the 7-Day Disabled List and placed left-handed pitcher Seth Hougesen on the 7-Day Disabled List retroactive to Friday prior to Sunday’s contest against Lincoln. Griffin is expected to make his first professional start in Sunday’s game against Lincoln.
Griffin signed his first American Association contract with Gary on May 29th and is 2-1 with a 4.90 ERA in 10 relief appearances with Gary. Griffin didn’t allow a run in his first five appearances, covering 7.1 innings, with the Railcats and recorded his first professional win in his second professional appearance on June 2nd against Kansas City (W, 3.0 IP, 3 R/2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 1 K).
Griffin signed his first professional baseball contract with the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League on March 25th following his senior season at Curry College. Griffin played collegiately the past four years at Curry College in Milton, Mass., and was three-time First Team All-Conference selection. Griffin went 19-15 in 46 appearances (33 starts) in his time with the Colonels and finished his college career with an impressive 2.08 ERA. Of his 33 starts, 18 of them were complete games (54.54{1a7eac83378132b66f7740375ebb519fe9a36cf6261eeabd16348e045149f3fa}).
In the summer of 2017, Griffin played for the Brockton Rox of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. The right-hander racked up a 4-1 record with the Rox and finished the regular season with a 3.74 ERA, an 11.50 K/9 rate and a K/BB ratio of 2.87.
Hougesen signed his first professional baseball contract with Gary on June 30th following his senior season at Delta State University and is 3-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 12 games (11 starts). Hougesen most recently pitched on Friday vs. St. Paul, striking out a career-high seven batters over 5+ innings while allowing just one run on run on two hits and three walks in a no-decision.
The left-hander didn’t allow run in first 9.1 innings and tossed four scoreless innings in his professional baseball debut on June 30th vs. Kansas City. A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Hougesen threw three scoreless innings of relief in his only appearance out of the bullpen on July 5th against Cleburne. Hougesen recorded his first professional win on July 28th against Milwaukee in his first game off the Disabled List (W, 5.0 IP, 4 R/4 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and recorded his first career home win on August 1st vs. Winnipeg (W, 5.0 IP, 1 R/1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 5 K).
Hougesen recently completed his senior season at Delta State University and went 9-0 with three complete games (one shutout) and a 2.44 ERA in 14 appearances (10 starts). In 59 innings pitched, the southpaw allowed 20 runs (16 earned) on 51 hits and 14 walks while striking out 55.
Hougesen transferred to Delta State as a junior in 2018, and went 2-1 with a 5.60 ERA in 12 games (eight starts). In 35.1 innings, Hougesen allowed 26 runs (22 earned) on 40 hits and 22 walks while striking out 39.
In 2017, Hougesen was named National Junior College (NJCAA) National Pitcher of the Year at Dyersburg State Community College after going 14-1 with a 1.49 ERA. In 92.1 innings pitched, the southpaw struck out 107 batters and allowed just 74 hits and 35 walks.
Prior to attending Dyersburg State Community College, Hougesen attended Concordia University—Wisconsin for his freshman year in 2016. Hougesen was named to the Honorable Mention All-Northern Athletics Conference Team and the NACC All-Freshman Team after going 3-3 with one complete game and a 3.35 ERA in nine games (eight starts). In 40. 1 innings pitched, the left-hander allowed 19 runs (15 earned) on 42 hits and nine walks while striking out 38.
Gary resumes its three-game series vs. Lincoln on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Saturday, Aug. 31st to conclude the season vs. Lincoln. Saturday’s game is at 4:10 p.m. and is Oktoberfest, presented by Berey Bros., and features a team card set giveaway to the first 1,000 fans. Sunday’s game is also another AccessAbilities Signature Saturday and Kids Run the Bases.
Ticket packages for the 2019 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.
–RAILCATS–