712.277.WINS (9467)

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that the club has signed RHP Tayler Scott and RHP Trevor Bayless to 2016 American Association contracts. The 2016 season will mark Scott’s 6^th season in professional baseball and Bayless’ 4^th season in professional baseball.

Scott was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 5^th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft from Notre Dame Prep High School (Scottsdale, AZ). A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, Scott got his first taste of professional baseball in 2011 playing at the rookie level in the Arizona League. Scott was impressive in 2012 pitching for the Cubs affiliate in Boise, ID where he made 15 starts on the mound, tossing 71.1 innings, allowing just 66 hits while accumulating 43 strikeouts and owning a 2.52 ERA to go along with his 5-1 record. Following the 2012 season, Baseball America ranked Scott as the Northwest League’s #17 prospect.

Scott continued rising through the Cubs system making 24 starts at the class A level in 2013 and making 26 more starts in 2014 for the Advanced-A Daytona Cubs. The 6’3 right-hander moved to the bullpen last season and in 11 games with Myrtle Beach he posted a 2-2 record with a miniscule 1.96 ERA while striking out 27 to just 6 walks with 2 saves. Scott owned the Carolina League’s fifth-lowest opponent batting average against at .197 and third most strikeouts per nine innings pitched at a 9.90 average. For his efforts, Scott was promoted to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies and finished the season there appearing in 15 games out of the bullpen while owning a 4-1 record with a save in 31 innings pitched.

Bayless was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 22^nd round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from the University of San Diego. Bayless started his professional career in 2013, impressing with the Vermont Lake Monsters where he would own a miniscule 1.10 ERA with 7 saves out of the bullpen. For his efforts, Bayless was named a 2013 Mid-Season All-Star in the New York-Penn League but didn’t appear in the game due to injury. The Temecula, CA native would spend most of his 2014 season playing for the class A Beloit Snappers where he appeared in 24 games and recorded 22 strikeouts. Last season the right-hander played the majority of his games at the Advanced-A level for the Stockton Ports in the California League, appearing in 31 games and racking up 45 strikeouts before being promoted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds where he finished the season there with a 1-0 record while not allowing a run in his 3 appearances.

With the signings of Scott and Bayless, the Explorers now have 11 pitchers and 10 position players signed to 2016 American Association contracts. In other team news, the Explorers have released recently signed RHP Jacob Newberry.          

The Explorers 2016 Home Opener will be Thursday, May 19^th versus the Sioux Falls Canaries. Individual game tickets for the home opener and all 50 games on the 2016 schedule are on sale now. Get in the game with the X’s and purchase your tickets by stopping down at the Box Office at Lewis & Clark Park or by calling 712-277-WINS (9467).