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SIOUX CITY, IA. – The Sioux City Explorers announced today the signing of OF Brandon Newton and 1B/DH Jorge Delgado. The two will report to camp on May 4th, when the X’s begin their 21st season of professional baseball in Siouxland. The 2013 season marks both Newton and Delgado’s second season with the X’s.

A West Covina, CA native, Newton returns for his fourth season of professional baseball. In 2012, Newton was one of the top offensive producers for the X’s. He finished the season batting .332, second on squad behind Delgado, in 89 games. In 352 plate appearances, the left-hander collected 117 hits, 14 doubles, and six triples and plated 32 runners. He led the X’s in stolen bases (12) and triples, while finishing second for the squad in walks (41) and hits.

Prior to the 2012 season, the 27-year old, spent time in the now-defunct Northern League and Frontier League. Over his three seasons, Newton has compiled a strong .317 batting average in 955 at-bats, collecting 303 hits and producing 163 runs.

Signed during the last month of the 2012 season, Delgado returns to the X’s for his 8th season of professional baseball in the States. The 32-year-old, Venezuela native was originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999 and played for four seasons in the D’Backs and Rockies farm system. Delgado played in the Liga Norte de Mexico during the 2008-2010 seasons, where he won three consecutive batting titles, hitting .480, .464 and .456, respectively.

A career .323 hitter, Delgado split the 2012 between three squads of the American Association, playing in Laredo (TX) and Fargo-Moorhead (ND) before making his way to Sioux City. With the X’s, the right-hander posted a team-high .404 batting average in 24 games, collecting 40 hits, seven doubles and 4 home runs, while producing 23 runs batted in.

“The X’s are excited about having two of our key offensive players back from last year,” mentioned X’s Field Manager, Stan Cliburn. “Both Newton and Delgado bring excitement with every at-bat to the club.”

The 2013 Home Opener will be Thursday, May 16th at 7:05pm versus the Sioux Falls Canaries with Wells Fargo Bank Magnet Schedule Giveaway and a post-game fireworks show by Lantis Fireworks! Individual game tickets are on sale now – to reserve your 9 Innings of Vacation stop down to the X’s Box Office, located at Lewis & Clark Park or call 277-WINS. To view the complete 2013 schedule, visit www.xsbaseball.com