712.277.WINS (9467)

RHP BECOMES 9^TH X’S PLAYER TO JOIN MLB TEAM SINCE END OF 2015 SEASON

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that the Los Angeles Dodgers have purchased the contract of Explorers RHP Reinier Roibal. Roibal will report to spring training with the Dodgers when pitchers and catchers report in the next week to earn a spot within the Dodgers organization for the 2017 season.

Roibal signed with the Explorers at the end of last season on August 25^th, 2016 and made his X’s debut on August 28^th pitching a perfect inning. Roibal made two starts for the X’s, picking up a win on September 3^rd vs. the Texas AirHogs.  For the season, Roibal went 1-0 with the X’s, with a 3.11 ERA. In 8.2 innings pitched, the righty accumulated 9 strikeouts to just 1 walk.    

Prior to joining the X’s, Roibal started his professional career at 17 years old playing in the Cuban National Series before signing with the San Francisco Giants as an international free agent in 2010. The Santiago, Cuba native would spend three seasons in the Giants farm system before signing with the Philadelphia Phillies organization where he would spend the next two seasons, reaching as high as Triple-A last season.  His best season in the Phillies organization came in 2015 pitching for the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils where he went 6-1 and had the 4^th lowest ERA in the entire Eastern League at 1.66. For his professional career, Roibal has a career record of 31-23 with a 3.87 ERA. In 479 career innings pitched, Roibal has accumulated 347 strikeouts to just 175 walks.

With Roibal’s signing by the Dodgers organization, the Sioux City Explorers have now had 9 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.

The 2017 home opener is only 99 days away. Group reservations are now being accepted for all 50 home games, including the 2017 home opener on Thursday, May 18^th versus the Sioux Falls Canaries. Get in the game with the X’s by calling 712-277-WINS (9467).