712.277.WINS (9467)

DEXTURE McCALL, TAYLOR HYSSONG NEWEST X’S

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that the club has signed 1B Dexture McCall and LHP Taylor Hyssong to 2018 American Association contracts. The 2018 season will mark McCall’s 5^th season in professional baseball and Hyssong’s 3^rd season in professional baseball.

McCall was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 31^st round of the 2014 MLB Draft from Hillsborough Community College (Tampa, FL). McCall would make his professional debut at the age of 20 in 2014 and would spend 4 seasons in the Astros organization owning a career .269/.346/.393 slash line in 308 games in affiliated ball.

In the 2015 season, McCall produced career highs with a .295 batting average and a .376 on base percentage playing for the Tri-City ValleyCats. For his efforts, McCall was named a 2015 New York-Pennsylvania League All-Star and was named the game’s MVP. The native of Tampa, FL followed the campaign up with another successful season in 2016 where he was named a Houston Astros MiLB Organizational All-Star after leading the Quad Cities River Bandits in hits (114), doubles (21), home runs (9), RBIs (58), and runs scored (45). McCall split time last season between the Astros Advanced-A and Double-A affiliates, clubbing 10 homeruns.      

Hyssong was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 8^th round of the 2016 MLB Draft from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Hyssong boasted an impressive 1.56 ERA in his professional debut in 2016 and followed that up with a 2.77 ERA last season pitching for the Braves rookie level affiliate the Danville Braves. Hyssong owns a career 2.28 ERA in his two seasons in affiliated ball, allowing 38 hits in 43.1 innings pitched while racking up 37 strikeouts. 

Hyssong began his collegiate career at Davis and Elkins College where he made 6 appearances (5 starts) and posted a 2.21 ERA and a perfect 4-0 record, striking out 42 in 36.2 innings. The southpaw transferred the following season to Pitt Community College where he was named Second-Team All-Region as a sophomore, posting a 6-2 record and leading the team in strikeouts with 65. Hyssong played his final two collegiate seasons at the University of North Carolina Wilmington before being selected by the Atlanta Braves.   

With the signings of McCall and Hyssong, the X’s now have 26 players (17 pitchers, 9 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). TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR ALL 50 HOME GAMES ON THE 2018 SCHEDULE!!