712.277.WINS (9467)

PARKER MARKEL AND ANDREW THURMAN JOIN X’S

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that the club has signed RHP Parker Markel and RHP Andrew Thurman to 2018 American Association contracts. The 2018 season will mark Markel’s 8^th season in professional baseball and Thurman’s 6^th season in professional baseball.

Markel was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 32^nd round of the 2009 MLB Draft from Mountain Ridge HS (Glendale, AZ) but did not sign. Markel was once again drafted the following year after one season at Yavapai College (Prescott, AZ) by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 39^th round. Markel would spend 7 years in the Rays system, pitching mostly as a reliever, owning a 34-26 record with a 3.99 ERA in 197 appearances. 

Markel made his professional debut in 2010 at the age of 19 and just a year later was named a 2011 New York-Pennsylvania League Mid-Season All-Star pitching for the Hudson Valley Renegades. The Surprise, AZ native continued to impress in 2012 where he earned 11 wins which was tied for the 4^th most in the entire Midwest League. Markel split the 2015 and 2016 seasons between the Rays Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, including finishing the 2016 season with the Triple-A Durham Bulls where the righty went 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA in 34 games for the Bulls.  

Thurman was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2^nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft from the University of California-Irvine. Thurman would spend two seasons in the Astros organization before being traded to the Atlanta Braves for big leaguer Evan Gattis. Thurman pitched two seasons in the Braves organization, with the majority of his time spent pitching for the Double-A Mississippi Braves. The Orange, CA native signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 and appeared in 17 games between their Advanced-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa affiliates, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.91 ERA.

Prior to beginning his professional career, Thurman enjoyed a stellar collegiate career at the University of California-Irvine where he was named a two-time All-Big West Conference selection. In three seasons with the Anteaters, Thurman owned a career 18-10 record with a 3.19 ERA, including throwing a no-hitter in 2012 against Long Beach State.   

With the signings of Markel and Thurman, the X’s now have 24 players (16 pitchers, 8 position players) signed to 2018 contracts. 

The 2018 season marks 26 years of baseball in Siouxland for the Explorers, with the X’s 2018 home opener scheduled for Friday, May 25^th at Mercy Field at Lewis & Clark Park versus the Cleburne Railroaders in a 7:05pm contest. Catch the excitement in 2018 by reserving your 2018 season tickets or company group outing now by calling 712-277-WINS (9467).