Closer Andy Shipman – the 2009 Northern League Relief Pitcher of the Year – will return for a second season with the RailCats in 2010.

Shipman, 28, enjoyed an outstanding season in 2009 as the RailCats closer, leading the league in saves (14) and games finished (35) and participating in the Northern League All-Star Game.  After appearing in just five games for Kansas City T-Bones before being released, the hard-throwing righty signed with Gary in June and posted an impressive 1.85 ERA in 39 innings, helping the RailCats reach the Northern League Championship Series for a fifth consecutive year.  The ‘Cats closer held 2009 opponents to a paltry .210 batting average, allowing only 29 hits while striking out 34 and walking just 11.  During the month of June, Shipman was especially dominant, posting a 0.82 ERA, collecting six saves in 11 innings and striking out 12.

Despite not being drafted, Shipman has enjoyed a solid nine-year professional career compiling 364 strikeouts in 420.1 innings.  The Nebraska native spent a summer in the Alaska Baseball League and performed well enough to earn a contract from the Boston Red Sox in 2003.

In 2004, Shipman saved 13 games for Sarasota (A) in the Red Sox system.  After an appearance in the Florida State League All-Star Game in 2003 – for his performance in Sarasota – Shipman was promoted to West Tenn (AA) in 2005 and saved 15 games for the Diamond Jaxx, grabbing a spot on the Southern League’s Mid-Season All-Star Team.

Shipman pitched the majority of 2006 at Triple-A Iowa in the Chicago Cubs system, going 2-3 and posting a 3.81 ERA in 56.2 innings.  Shipman struck out 43 at Iowa and finished the year with 11 lights-out appearances back at Double-A.  Following the 2006 season, Shipman was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the Triple-A segment of the Rule 5 Draft, and spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons with Midland (AA) in the Athletics organization.  Shipman finished the 2008 season as a key contributor for the Northern League Champion Kansas City T-Bones.

Shipman, who now makes his home in Kansas City, spent time at three different colleges including his last two seasons at Missouri.  Shipman has also spent the majority of his life with a glass eye after a childhood injury cost him the use of his left eye.