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Multiple Franchise Records Holder Sent to Saints, Add Former Big Leaguer

Sioux City, IA - The Sioux City Explorers announced today that they have traded outfielder Michael Lang to the St. Paul Saints for two players to be named later. And have announced the signing of former major league outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker

Michael Lang was a main stay in right field for the Explorers for the past six seasons in an Explorers uniform and has played in seven total. Lang has played the most games in a Sioux City uniform with 538. Lang also leads the X’s in career franchise hits with 642 and became only the thirteenth player in league history to reach the 600 hit mark on June 11th against the Lincoln Saltdogs with a home run. 

Lang also leads the franchise in runs (432) doubles (106), triples (32), total bases (912), at bats (2,135), plate appearances (2,421), hit by pitch (52) and strikeouts (473). He finishes with the second most stolen bases in franchise history with 143, which is 25 short of Nolan Lane’s 168. He also holds the single season records for triples (’15 - 10) and stolen bases (’15 - 45). 

The former Rutger Scarlet Knight is hitting .279 with five home runs, 17 doubles, 18 RBI’s, 47 runs scored, 13 stolen bases and an OBP of .351. Lang was also part of both 70 win teams for the Explorers in 2015 and 2018. Lang  during his seven seasons slashed 301/.370/.428, hit 34 home runs and collected 172 extra base hits.

The thirty year old outfielder went un-drafted out of Rutgers before joining the Explorers for the 2012 season. After hitting .405 in 34 games with the X’s in 2012 Lang had his contract purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He would spend two seasons in two different levels of A-Ball for the D-Backs organization before being released and finding his way back to Sioux City for the start of the 2014 season, the first year for Explorers manager Steve Montgomery and has been playing in an Explorers uniform since then. 

The Explorers also announced the addition of former big league outfielder Jeremy Hazelbaker. The 31 year old from Muncie, IN joins the X’s with a plethora of experience. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox out of Ball State University in the 4th round of the 2009 MLB Draft. The left handed hitting outfielder would spend five seasons in the Red Sox farm system making it as high as AAA. The next two seasons were spent with the Dodgers and Cardinals in both of their AA and AAA affiliates. 

In 2016 Hazelbaker would spend much of the season with the St. Louis Cardinals parent club. Making his major league debut on April 3, 2016 against the Pittsburgh Pirates he would end up playing in 114 games during the 2016 season he hit .235 with 12 home runs, seven doubles, 28 RBI’s and 35 runs scored while swiping five bases. 

The 2017 season found him playing in 41 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks and hitting .346 over that time. In Hazelbaker’s big league career he played in 155 games and hit .258 with 14 home runs, 38 RBI’s, 45 runs scored and six stolen bases. 

Last season saw him bounce around the AAA affiliates of the Diamondbacks, Rays and Twins. During the 2019 season he has played in 11 games in Korea for the Kia Tigers of the KBO.