The Gary SouthShore RailCats announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Darin May before Monday’s series finale against the Milwaukee Milkmen. In order to make room for May on the 23-man active roster, the RailCats placed right-handed pitcher Dugan Darnell on irrevocable waivers.
May recently finished his senior season at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, prior to signing his professional baseball contract with Gary. In 16 relief appearances with the Broncos, the right-hander went 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA and a team-best eight saves. In 17 innings, May yielded just four runs on 11 hits and two walks while striking out 24 batters.
During the summer of 2019, May won a Southern California Collegiate Baseball League Championship (SCCBL) with the Palm Springs Power. In 19 appearances, May went 2-0 with one save and a 0.47 ERA. In 19 innings pitched, May yielded just three runs (one earned) on six hits and six walks while striking out 26 hitters. May didn’t allow an earned run in his final 17 appearances and closed out the season with 7.1 hitless innings pitched.
As a junior in 2018 at Cal Poly, Pomona, May went 1-0 with one save and a 2.45 ERA in 15 relief appearances. In 18.1 innings pitched, May yielded just five runs on 12 hits and eight walks while striking out 17. During the summer of 2018 with the Power, May went 2-1 with three saves and a 0.93 ERA in 17 relief appearances. In 19.1 innings pitched, May yielded just three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out 33.
Prior to transferring to Cal Poly, Pomona, the Moreno Valley, Calif., native pitched collegiately at Riverside City Community College. As a sophomore in 2017, May went 2-1 with one save and a 0.46 ERA in 14 relief appearances. In 19.2 innings pitched, May yielded three runs (one earned) on 20 hits and six walks while striking out 23.
As a freshman in 2016, May made four relief appearances. In 5.1 innings pitched, May allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Darnell signed his first professional baseball contract with Gary on Wednesday and went 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in three relief appearances. In five innings, Darnell allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out two.
Darnell made his professional baseball debut on Wednesday against Sioux City and was charged with his first pro loss. Darnell allowed one run on two hits over two innings of relief. The very next day, Darnell tossed scoreless innings of relief and recorded his first professional strikeouts. Darnell most recently pitched on Saturday and allowed one run on three hits and a walk over one inning.
Darnell recently completed his senior season at Adrian College was named First Team All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA), First Team All-Mideast Region and D3baseball.com Fourth Team All-American honors as a two-way player. On the mound, Darnell went 3-1 with a league-best and single-season school record eight saves and 0.39 ERA in 20 relief appearances. In 23 innings pitched, Dugan yielded just two runs (one earned) on six hits and 15 walks while striking out 37 batters and held opposing hitters to a .081 batting average. Offensively, Dugan slashed .314/.460/.497/.957 with a career-best 41 runs, 48 hits, 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 43 RBIs, 26 walks and 18 hit by pitches in 46 games.
A native of Northville, Mich., Darnell was a three-year starter and four-year letter winner at Adrian from 2016-19. In 132 career games, Darnell slashed .317/.447/.433/.890 with 101 runs, 128 hits, 21 doubles, four triples, six home runs, 94 RBIs, 58 walks and 12 stolen bases.
Following the 2019 college season, Darnell played for the Rockford Rivets of the Northwoods Summer Collegiate Baseball League. In seven games (one start), Darnell went 0-1 with two saves and a 2.64 ERA. In 17 innings, Darnell allowed five runs on 13 hits and nine walks while striking out 19 batters.
As a junior in 2018, Dugan slashed .362/.496/.429/.925 with 22 runs, 38 hits, seven doubles, 19 RBIs and four stolen bases in 33 games. In the summer of 2018, Darnell played for the Xenia Scouts of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League. In 18 games, Darnell slashed .286/.481/.286/.787 with 14 runs, 16 hits, 10 RBIs, 16 walks and four stolen bases.
As a sophomore in 2017, Darnell slashed .278/.378/.361/.739 with 33 runs, 37 hits, one double, two triples, two home runs, 29 RBIs, 15 walks and five strikeouts in 40 games. As a freshman in 2016, Dugan went 5-for-13 with five runs, a double, two walks and three RBIs over 13 games.
Gary concludes their six-game road trip and three-game series against Milwaukee at Routine Field on Monday at 7:05 p.m. RailCats’ right-hander Christian DeLeon (1-2, 3.42) opposes Milkmen right-hander (3-7, 5.72) in the series finale.
Gary returns home to U.S. Steel Yard on Tuesday for a nine-game, 10-day homestand vs. the Winnipeg Goldeyes at 7:10 p.m. Tuesday’s game is Crown Point Community Library Night and features a food drive, supporting Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. Tuesday’s game is also another Community HealthNet Health Centers Tuesday and Taco Tuesday. Visit any Northwest Indiana CHN for complimentary tickets to Tuesday’s game and enjoy our beef tacos and margaritas for $2 and $5, respectively.
Ticket packages for the 2019 Gary SouthShore RailCats season are available online at railcatsbaseball.com and can also be purchased by calling the RailCats ticket line at (219) 882-BALL. The RailCats box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.