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RHP BECOMES 11^TH X’S PLAYER TO JOIN MLB TEAM SINCE END OF 2015 SEASON

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that RHP Kurt Heyer will join the Miami Marlins organization. Heyer recently signed with the Explorers on April 14^th before being signed by the Marlins.

Heyer was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 6^th round of the 2012 MLB Draft from the University of Arizona. Heyer had a stellar 3-year collegiate career at for Arizona, including helping the Wildcats win the 2012 College World Series Championship. As a freshman, Heyer became the team’s top starter, leading the team with a 3.26 ERA and 109 strikeouts. The righty followed that up with a 2.41 ERA and 134 punchouts as a sophomore. Heyer had a special junior season in 2012 where he went 13-2 with a 2.24 ERA and 113 strikeouts, earning a place on the 2012 watch list for the Golden Spikes Award (nation’s best collegiate player). 

Heyer began his professional career with the Cardinals in 2012 at the rookie level and continued to advance through the Cardinals system, making jumps in class every season. In 2013, the Huntington Beach, CA native started at the Single-A level before finishing the season with the Advanced-A Palm Beach Cardinals finishing with a combined 9-7 record with a 3.41 ERA. Heyer spent the majority of the 2014 and 2015 seasons playing at the Double-A level for the Springfield Cardinals, making stints at the Triple-A level in each season. Heyer spent the majority of the 2016 season pitching for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds appearing in 22 games, including 10 starts. Heyer pitched in one game for the Redbirds this season before being released on April 11^th and signed by the Explorers.  

With Heyer’s signing by the Marlins organization, the Sioux City Explorers have now had 11 player’s contracts acquired by an affiliated organization since the completion of the 2015 season; Ryan Kalish – Chicago Cubs, Rob Wort – Boston Red Sox, Patrick Johnson – Pittsburg Pirates, Ryan Court – Boston Red Sox, Noah Perio – Los Angeles Dodgers, Tayler Scott – Milwaukee Brewers, Connor Overton – San Francisco Giants, Lindsey Caughel – Seattle Mariners, Reinier Roibal – Los Angeles Dodgers, Nelson Ward – Seattle Mariners, Kurt Heyer – Miami Marlins