Gary SouthShore RailCats third baseman Tanner Townsend – the owner of virtually every offensive record in franchise history and the 2008 Northern League Player of the Year – has been sold to the Florida Marlins, the team announced today.

Townsend, 28, will report to the Marlins’ Spring Training complex in Jupiter, Fla. in February and ends his four-year RailCats tenure as the franchise’s all-time career leader in home runs (39), runs batted in (229) and runs scored (218).  Townsend became the first RailCats player to claim Player of the Year honors after setting seven different team records in 2008.

“It has been a wonderful six year relationship with Tanner,” Manager Greg Tagert, who first signed Townsend in the Frontier League in 2003, said. “As tough as it will be for me to see someone else playing third base, I couldn’t be happier – or more proud – of Tanner Townsend. I have no doubt he will achieve great success with the Marlins.”

Townsend played in 354 games in his RailCats career, third behind only longtime teammates Steve Haake and Jay Pecci on the all-time list.  A major league-caliber defensive third baseman, Townsend was named to Baseball America’s All-Independent Leagues First Team in 2008, becoming the first RailCats position player to be so honored.

The face of the RailCats’ resurgence under Tagert, Townsend has rejoined an affiliated organization for the first time since 2002 when he had a brief stint in the San Diego Padres farm system.  In the interim, Townsend has played exclusively for Tagert, joining the RailCats before the 2005 season after two seasons with Tagert in the Frontier League.

With the Marlins, Townsend will be given a chance to reunite with a number of familiar faces who have made significant contributions to the RailCats.  Willie Glen, the 2007 Northern League Pitcher of the Year, was an All-Star for Carolina (AA) in 2008, Anthony Iapoce, a member of the RailCats’ 2005 championship team, is a hitting coach in the Marlins system as is former RailCats Hitting Coach Andy Haines.

Townsend is the 18th player contract the RailCats have sold to a Major League organization since 2002.  Two former RailCats – Tim Byrdak and Nathan Haynes – reached the major leagues after their sales.

The entire RailCats organization congratulates Tanner Townsend on this tremendous opportunity and wishes him nothing but continued success as he pursues his big league dream.

RAILCATS SOLD TO MLB ORGANIZATIONS

Tanner Townsend	Florida Marlins	2008
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