The Gary SouthShore RailCats have signed catcher Andres Noriega, pitcher Julio Pinto, and outfielder Carlos Rincón for the 2024 season.
Noriega, 22, most recently played for the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League in 2022. Noriega hit 3 home runs, 6 doubles, and 21 RBIs in 60 games for the FerryHawks.
Manager Lamarr Rogers had this to say about Noriega, “He is best known for his defensive prowess, and his strength with a team has been his ability to work with the pitching staff, block, receive and throw.”
Noriega previously spent three seasons in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system, reaching as high as the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. Across all three seasons, Noriega hit 3 home runs, 11 doubles, and 36 RBIs across 84 games.
Pinto, 27, last played in 2022 for the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. With the Bats, Pinto struck out 15 batters in 14.2 innings out of the bullpen.
“Julio provides a veteran Triple-A arm with experience as both a starter and reliever. We’ll be leaning on his experience to play a vital role with our RailCats pitching staff. I’m excited to welcome him to our roster.”
Pinto comes to the RailCats with nine seasons of professional playing experience. The Kansas City Royals signed the right-hander in 2013 at the age of 18. Pinto spent six seasons in the Royals farm system, reaching as high as the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2018. Pinto then spent the next three seasons in the Cincinnati Reds farm system, where he would climb from Single-A all the way up to Triple-A.
Rincón, 26, most recently played for the Syracuse Mets, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. Rincón hit five home runs, 10 doubles, and 13 RBIs across 39 games with Syracuse.
“Once a top prospect in the New York Mets organization, Carlos provides big bat potential having clubbed 20-plus homeruns several times during a season over his seven-year career. His multiple seasons in Double-A and Triple-A provide valuable experience to our maturing RailCats lineup.”
Rincón has 6 seasons of professional baseball experience, originally signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016. While a part of the Dodgers farm system, Rincón played four complete seasons, reaching as high as Double-A. During the 2021 campaign, the Dodgers traded Rincón to the Mets farm system, where he would climb from Double-A to Triple-A.
The RailCats Home Opener is set for May 17, 2024. For season ticket packages and group and hospitality offerings for the 2024 season, call 219-882-2255 or visit railcatsbaseball.com.
