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SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers continue to add depth to their pitching staff with agreeing to terms with 2014 American Association All-Star, Patrick Johnson. The 2015 season will mark Johnsons 5^th season of professional baseball and second season as a member of the X’s.

Prior to joining the X’s in 2014, Johnson pitched the previous three seasons in the Colorado Rockies organization. In his three seasons in the Rockies organization, he accumulated a 4.31 ERA in 73 games (9 starts). Patrick pitched 119.0 innings, while recording 130 strikeouts to just 61 walks.  Johnson was a 25^th round selection of the Rockies in the 2011 draft out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In his first season with the X’s in 2014, Johnson tallied a 9-7 record while pitching 111.2 innings (19 starts) and recording a team high 106 strikeouts to just 65 walks with a 4.59 ERA.  Johnson’s 9 wins tied fellow X’s hurler John Straka for the most wins by an X’s pitcher on the season and his 111.2 innings of work was good for second on the team behind Straka, whom has already been re-signed for the 2015 campaign as well.  For his efforts in 2014, Johnson was twice named the American Association pitcher of the week (June 22^nd and July 13^th) while also earning a selection to the 2014 American Association All-Star game which was held in Winnipeg, MB.

“I am pleased and excited to know we will have Patrick back in our starting rotation for another season, he is a workhorse and a crucial piece to the success of our ballclub, states Field Manager, Steve Montgomery.”

The X’s now have 13 players signed for the 2015 season, including 6 pitchers and 7 position players.

The Sioux City Explorers and second year field manager, Steve Montgomery will kick off the 2015 season at home on Thursday, May 21^st when they welcome the Sioux Falls Canaries to Lewis & Clark Park for game one of the scheduled 4 game series.   The first 3 games of the series will be at Lewis & Clark Park before the X’s travel to Sioux Falls on Sunday, May 24^th for the final game of the opening series.