Moroney Signs with RailCats

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Senior right fielder Joe Moroney extended his baseball career July 2 as the California native signed his first professional contract with the Gary Southshore RailCats of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
 
“To continue to play this great game is one of the biggest blessings I have received in my life,” Moroney said. “The amount of time and effort you put into this game since you first pick up a bat and a ball – you realize how much you love it. To be considered a professional baseball player is truly a dream come true.”
 
Moroney joined the RailCats midseason on July 2 and wasted no time getting his feet wet. The right fielder tallied a hit in his first professional game, only to follow it up the next day with a hit and two runs scored – on par with his performance at Kansas as a fifth-year senior.
 
Moroney took a redshirt his junior season with the hopes he would be able to earn a spot on head coach Ritch Price’s lineup card. The wait was worth it and Moroney made the most of his opportunity finishing his final season with a .304 batting average that included 11 doubles, three home runs and eight stolen bases. He started 44 of the 53 games he played in on the Jayhawks’ 56-game slate.
 
“Being able to start and finish my career at KU was very instrumental in my development not only as a player, but as a person too,” Moroney said. “The long, challenging route this game has thrown at me – filled with so many peaks and valleys – has been worth every second. The support of my family and friends throughout this whole process has off the charts and has encouraged me to keep grinding and follow my dream.”
 
Moroney’s transaction with the RailCats marks the fifth player from the 2016 Kansas roster to sign a professional contract as Michael Tinsley, Ben Krauth, Sam Gilbert and Colby Wright were all selected in the 2016 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft earlier in June.
 
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