712.277.WINS (9467)

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that they have signed C Matt Koch to a 2015 American Association contract. The 2015 season will mark Matt’s 5^th season of professional baseball and first season donning an X’s uniform.

Koch, 26, was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 22nd round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA and by the Minnesota Twins in the 12 round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft.  Koch spent four seasons (2011-2014) in the Twins organization, while quickly advancing up the ranks in each of his 4 seasons. 

Koch started his career with the Twins rookie ball affiliate in Elizabethton, TN of the Appalachian league in 2011 and appeared in only 12 games before appearing in 89 games in 2012 with their Single-A affiliate in Beloit, WI (Midwest League).  In Beloit, Koch collected 77 hits, 23 doubles, 8 homeruns, while driving in 39 RBI’s and hitting .253 in 304 at-bats, while throwing out 34% of runners from behind the plate.  In 2013,  Koch was promoted to the Twins A+ affiliate in Ft. Myers, FL where he accumulated a .273 batting average while collecting 98 hits to go along with 20 doubles and carrying a .346 on base percentage and he also threw out 24-65 base runners on the season.  The 2014 season saw Koch in a New Britain Rock Cats uniform for the Twins Double-A affiliate in New Britain, CT in the Eastern League. On the season, Koch appeared in 73 games (catching 64 games) while collecting 46 hits, 9 doubles, 2 homeruns while once again throwing out 34% of would be base stealers.  For his career, Koch has thrown out 31% of base runners (73-162) and has collected 233 hits, 58 doubles, 19 homeruns, 107 RBI’s, while hitting a combined .254 during his four seasons in the Twins organization.

In other team news, the X’s have also added LHP Will White and C Issac Wenrich.  White comes to the X’s out of the College of Marin, while Wenrich joins the X’s after previously playing with the Vallejo Admirals of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball(2013-2014).  The 2015 season will mark the first season in Sioux City for both players.

With the signing of Koch, Wenrich and White, the X’s now have (12) pitchers and (9) position players under contract for the 2015 season, which will mark the X’s 23^rd season of providing affordable family fun in Siouxland.

2015 SEASON TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW BY CALLING 712-277-WINS (9467) AND GROUP RESERVATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR ALL 50 HOME GAMES, INCLUDING THE 2015 HOME OPENER ON THURSDAY, MAY 21^ST VERSUS SIOUX FALLS.