GARY, Ind. — Gary SouthShore RailCats Manager Greg Tagert announced today that the contract options on 21 players have been exercised for the 2009 season.

The RailCats have retained the contractual rights to pitchers Tony Cogan, Aaron Cook, Eddie De la Cruz, Brian Halford, Brandon Higelin, Nate Hoelscher, Garret Holleran, Jon Lewis and Jeremy Plexico; catchers Anthony Esquer, Yuki Matsumoto and Brett Wallace; infielders Eric McNamee, Jay Pecci, Mike Rohde and Tanner Townsend; and outfielders Cristian Guerrero, Steve Haake, Rob Marconi, John McCarthy and Mike Reese.  Eighteen of those players finished the 2008 season on the RailCats’ active roster.  Holleran, Hoelscher and Matsumoto were on the disabled or inactive lists before being activated today.

The RailCats declined the 2009 options on pitchers Drew Dickinson, Brian Forystek, Travis Kerber and Brad Voyles, and infielder Eric Blakeley.  Those five players, along with pitcher Koichi Misawa, are all now free agents.  Forystek and Kerber have announced their intentions to retire from professional baseball.

Today’s announcement comes in accordance with Northern League rules that require teams to designate with whom they desire to retain contractual rights for the upcoming season.  None of the players have signed 2009 contracts.

The RailCats have advanced to four straight Northern League Championships and look to continue their Tradition of Excellence beginning in May 2009.