GARY, Ind. — Infielder Brian Kolb and left-handed pitcher T.J. Wohlever will return to the RailCats in 2012, the team announced Tuesday. The RailCats also signed catcher Ryan Babineau.

Kolb, a middle infielder, has spent parts of the last two seasons with the RailCats. He played briefly for the RailCats as a rookie in 2010 before being traded, but returned to the team in 2011 and hit .280/.332/.387 in 57 games with two homers and 18 RBI. 

The Carlsbad, Calif. native appeared in five games in a RailCats uniform and tallied four hits in 2010 before being traded to Evansville on July 19. In 38 games with the Otters, Kolb batted .229 with a homer and nine RBI. 

Kolb, 24 attended Wheaton (Ill.) College and finished his four-year career ranked 13th in NCAA Division III history with 270 career hits and 17th in NCAA Division III history in batting average (.450). Kolb was a three-time All-Region honoree and a First Team All-America pick in 2008 and was named to the All-CCIW team four straight seasons, taking home Player of the Year honors in 2008.

Wohlever joined the RailCats late in the 2011 season and was 1-0 in three appearances, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, walked three and struck out two.

Wohlever, 25, was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 32nd Round of the 2007 Draft and pitched for their Gulf Coast League rookie affiliate for two seasons, combining for a 1-2 record and 6.86 ERA.

Catcher Ryan Babineau gives the RailCats two catchers signed, joining returning catcher Craig Maddox. Babineau was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 17th Round of the 2008 Draft and spent three seasons in the D-Backs farm system between their Short-Season and Class-A affiliates.

As a rookie in 2008, Babineau hit .231/.369/.320 with a homer and 13 RBI in 43 games. He played in just 21 combined games in Class-A during 2009 and 2010, hitting .159 with four RBI. Babineau, 25, played collegiately at UCLA and hit .260 with 11 home runs and 87 RBI in three seasons.

Gary has signed 17 players for the 2012 season. A maximum of 28 players may be under contract during the pre-season and the active roster may hold up to 22 players once the regular season begins.

The RailCats will open the 2012 season on May 17, with the Home Opener on Friday, May 25 at 7:10 p.m. against the Wichita Wingnuts at U.S. Steel Yard.