RailCats closer Clay Zavada had his contract purchased by the San Diego Padres on Tuesday and will report to their double-A affiliate in San Antonio. In a corresponding move, the RailCats activated left-hander James Adkins from the disabled list.
Zavada becomes the 21st RailCat to be picked up by an affiliated organization since 2002. He is the first to be signed by an affiliated organization off the RailCats roster since left-handed pitcher Brad Furnish was signed by the Florida Marlins in December, 2010.
At the time of his purchase, Zavada was tied for second in the league in wins with 6. In 16 and 1/3 innings, he allowed 10 hits, three runs, six walks and struck out 18. Clay allowed runs in only one appearance as a RailCat, on May 26th at Kansas City.
He is currently riding a team-high 11 inning scoreless streak and leads the team with a 1.65 ERA.
In eight appearances at U. S. Steel Yard, Zavada allowed just four hits, one walk and struck out 11 in 8 and 1/3 innings.
It is the second time in Clay’s career that he has been signed by an affiliated team. In 2008, as a member of the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League, Zavada was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Clay pitched in 49 games for the Diamondbacks major-league club in 2009; he went 3-3 with a 3.35 ERA.
The RailCats activated left-hander James Adkins from the disabled list. He was placed on the DL on June 22nd with a tired arm.
The RailCats begin a four-game series at Sioux City on Wednesday night with a doubleheader beginning at 5:05 p.m. The radio broadcast begins at 5:00 on 89.1 FM The Lakeshore and www.railcatsbaseball.com.
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