GARY, Ind. — The Gary SouthShore RailCats today announced that recent signee Jordan Comadena has been signed by the Houston Astros.  Comadena is the 20th player to advance to an affiliated organization directly from the RailCats since 2002.

First signed by the RailCats just over two weeks ago, Comadena will now be in Kissimmee, Florida this February trying to land a spot on one of the Astros farm teams, likely at the Single-A level.  Comadena is the second RailCats player to enter the affiliated ranks this offseason, joining Tanner Townsend who had his contract sold to the Florida Marlins.

Comadena, 23, batted .270 at Purdue from 2005-08, leading the Boilermakers to the Big Ten Championship Game as a senior.  Purdue’s leadoff man, Comadena scored 69 runs in 82 games over his final two collegiate seasons and walked five more times than he struck out during that stretch.

Over the past several summers, Comadena had starred with the Madison Mallards of the collegiate Northwoods League where he was an All-Star in 2006.  Comadena played alongside 2008 Northern League Rookie of the Year Mike Rohde in Madison for two seasons and was the Mallards’ Most Valuable Player in 2007.

The RailCats begin their seventh season at state-of-the-art U. S. Steel Yard Monday, May 18 at 7 p.m. against the Joliet JackHammers.  Season tickets, group packages, mini-plans and flex tickets for 2009, and tickets to the first-ever RailCats Fan Fest (Saturday, February 21 at the Radisson Hotel), are available now by visiting the all-new www.railcatsbaseball.com or calling the RailCats at (219) 882-2255.

The RailCats have now had 20 players advance directly to the affiliated minor leagues and major leagues since 2002, including 18 player sales.

RAILCATS SIGNED BY MLB ORGANIZATIONS

Jordan Comadena	Houston Astros	2009
Tanner Townsend	Florida Marlins	2008
Willie Glen	Florida Marlins	2007
Jose Yepez	Seattle Mariners	2007
Chad Blackwell	Toronto Blue Jays	2007
Chris Curry	Kansas City Royals	2007
Todd Martin	Cleveland Indians	2006
Nathan Haynes	Los Angeles Angels	2006
Jose Yepez	Seattle Mariners	2006
Ivan Hernandez	New York Yankees	2006
P.J. Connelly	Los Angeles Angels	2005
Ben Risinger	San Diego Padres	2005
C.J. Medlin	Milwaukee Brewers	2004
Rich Rodrigues	Los Angeles Angels	2004
Dominic Woody	Seattle Mariners	2004
Tim Byrdak	San Diego Padres	2003
Sazi Guthrie	San Diego Padres	2003
Jake Upwood	San Diego Padres	2003
Carlos Pagan	Seattle Mariners	2002
Justin Craker	San Diego Padres	2002