All-America southpaw Zeb Engle returns after beginning his pro career with the RailCats in 2010.

Engle, 24, looks to build on an excellent first campaign with the RailCats which saw the rookie earn a 5-2 record with a 3.72 ERA in 32 games including three starts. Engle charged out of the gates allowing only one earned run in 8.1 innings, good for a paltry 1.08 ERA during the season’s first month. After a solid June, Engle struggled through the much of July, which is not surprising for a first year professional adjusting to the rigors of a lengthened season and increased workload. The Spring City, Pa. native rebounded to put together a great August en route to a 3.45 ERA for the month and helping the RailCats earn a sixth consecutive playoff berth. Engle excelled against lefties holding them to a .239 average for the season. Engle was also especially tough with runners in scoring position holding opposing hitters to only 11 hits in 68 at-bats, good for a measly .175 average.

Engle brought an impeccable college resume to the RailCats after tearing through the record books at Division III Ursinus (Pa.) College the last four years.  Engle set the school and Centennial Conference record for career strikeouts with 302 and was the 2009 league Pitcher of the Year following a near-perfect season.  Engle pitched in 13 games and made nine starts in 2009, going 9-0 with a 1.87 ERA, allowing just 72 hits in 81.2 innings and fanning an amazing 91 hitters.  That season earned Engle Second Team All-America honors from D3Baseball.com and the Mid-Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year award from the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Engle was nearly as good in his junior season of 2008, going 5-2 with a miniscule 2.00 ERA in 12 games (nine starts).  In 72.0 innings, Engle surrendered only 64 hits and whiffed 81, all while issuing only 22 walks.  In his final two seasons Engle also proved durable, going the distance in 11 of his last 18 college starts.

A native of Spring City, Pennsylvania, Engle played for four years at tiny Ursinus, a school of less than 1,600 students located just down the road from his hometown.  The left-hander’s given name is David Zebadiah Engle.