712.277.WINS (9467)

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that the club has acquired RHP Lindsey Caughel, the 2016 American Association pitcher of the year, along with LHP Ryan Davis and RHP Brad Orosey from the Lincoln Saltdogs in exchange for RHP Jake Kuebler and INF Cody Lenahan.

Caughel, 26, will give the X’s some much needed starting pitching coming off a phenomenal 2016 campaign in which the righty went 6-3 with a league leading 2.09 ERA on his way to being named the league’s pitcher of the year. The Orlando, FL resident was also tops in the league in batting average against, allowing opponents to hit for only a .215 average, while his 120 strikeouts were good for 3^rd most in the league. For the 2016 season, Caughel tossed 124.2 innings allowing only 101 hits while only walking 24 batters, good for an impressive 5.00 strikeout/walk ratio. Caughel was originally drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 35^th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft, chose not to sign and was once again drafted in 2012 in the 23^rd round by the Los Angeles Dodgers out of Stetson University (DeLand, FL). 

The 2017 season will be the 3^rd year in professional baseball for Davis, all at the independent level. The lefty began his professional career in the Pecos League playing for the Roswell Invaders, impressing with a perfect 5-0 record and a 2.20 ERA in 49 innings pitched. Davis began last season pitching in the Pacific Association before joining the Lincoln Saltdogs where the Queensbury, NY native posted a 2.28 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched. 

Orosey brings experience to the X’s pitching staff, pitching five seasons in independent baseball, including three seasons in the American Association (Fargo-Moorhead, Wichita, and Lincoln) following a stellar collegiate career at Texas Lutheran University where he posted a 32-6 career record with a 2.86 ERA.  Last year for the Saltdogs, the righty went 4-3 pitching 43.1 innings, striking out 49 batters to just 15 walks. 

“We are excited to acquire these three arms as it provides our pitching staff with more depth heading into the 2017 season,” commented X’s field manager Steve Montgomery. “Caughel was the pitcher of the year and Orosey and Davis are late inning arms with strikeout ability.”

Kuebler pitched in his first season with the Explorers in 2016, posting a 3-2 record. The Lincoln, NE resident tossed 75.1 innings with a 2.15 ERA in 35 games for the X’s. Lenahan was recently traded to the Explorers from the Texas AirHogs where he hit .264 with 12 homeruns. 

In other team news, the Explorers have placed INF Bryan Johns on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of giving him his unconditional release. Johns had informed the organization of his intent to retire from professional baseball.

The Explorers 2017 home opener is set for Thursday, May 18^th versus the Sioux Falls Canaries. Reserve your 2017 season ticket packages, flex ticket packages or company group outing by calling 712-277-WINS (9467).