With the RailCats going up to Winnipeg, there are some players who could not make the trip due to visa issues. Those players are

• RHP Andres Diaz
• INF Marcos Gonzalez
• RHP Franklin Perez
• Catcher Guillermo Quintana
• OF Carlos Rincon
• RHP Carlos Sanbria
• INF Miguel Sierra

The RailCats added players to replace those players and they signed them from the Black Sox organization. Those players are

• RHP Sam Frontino, who played for Lake Erie in the Frontier League. On Baseball Reference, he is listed as an infielder but looks to be signed as a pitcher, as he did pitch in 12 games last year. However, he has no college pitching stats. Last year with Lake Erie, he pitched 14 innings, had an ERA of 3.21, gave up 11 hits, 6 runs (5 earned), 1 home run, 11 walks, and struck out 10.
• RHP Hunter Treece. His last stats that show on Baseball Reference showed he last played in 2022 (which doesn’t mean he hasn’t played since then). That was in Tucson in the Pecos League where he played in 10 games and started 1. He had an ERA of 2.86 in 28.1 innings pitched, gave up 25 hits, 12 runs, 9 earned, 2 home runs, 13 walks, and struck out 34.
• Catcher Julio Cajigas: He will more than likely not catch as he doesn’t show up at the catching spot, but he could be used as a DH. He wrapped up his college career at Concordia University Chicago, where this year he played in 35 games, had 137 at-bats, scored 34 runs, got 43 hits, 8 doubles, 6 home runs, and 30 RBIs. He stole 5 bases, got caught twice, walked 14 times, and struck out 37. He slashed .314/.377/.504 with an OPS of .881.
• Infielder Carson McCurdy: His last team was Sussex County in the Frontier League and Kentucky in the Atlantic League in 2022. Looking at the stats from his time with Kentucky, he played in 4 games, had 8 At-Bats, 1 Hit, and recorded 5 Strikeouts. In the Frontier League, he played in 47 games, had 116 At-Bats, and Slashed a .233/.305/.379 with an OPS of .685, 4 home runs, and 17 RBI’s.
• Outfielder Nick Penzetta: Is returning for his 2nd stint with the RailCats this season. In his 1st stint, he played in 4 games, had 10 at-bats, 2 hits, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI, and 5 strikeouts. He slashed .200/.200/.200 with an OPS of .400.

It’ll be interesting to see if any of these players make their way to Gary after the road trip, and if some play at all. But in my eyes, they all should have a chance to play, as the season is only 7 games away from being over, and the RailCats are ELIMINATED from the playoffs.