The Sioux City Explorers have announced the signing of RHP Kent Hasler.
The 2021 season will be Hasler’s fourth in professional baseball and first with the Explorers.
The right hander was originally slated to be an Explorer last season before the X’s season was cancelled due to the pandemic. However this did not leave Hasler without a place to play. He was taken with the 33rd overall pick in the American Association supplemental draft by the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
The Arizona native quickly proved that he not only belonged but could thrive in the American Association. Over his first six appearances for the Goldeyes, he did not allow a single run. In that span of 8.2 innings he allowed only a pair of hits and walks while striking out a whopping 15 batters. In the 22 total appearances he made for Winnipeg he held opponents off the scoreboard in 17 of those, leading to a 1.84 ERA. He also proved to be a very versatile weapon out of the bullpen tossing multiple innings in half of his appearances. He racked up 41 strikeouts over 29.1 innings while issuing only eight free passes.
Hasler has spent the first two seasons of his professional career in the Frontier League with the Lake Erie Crushers. In 2019, Hasler appeared in 38 games, holding down an ERA of 2.01 over 67 innings of work as he was asked to pitch multiple innings in 22 games. He showcased an electric arm pacing his own bullpen in strikeouts with 89 leading all of the Frontier League relievers in strikeouts.
In Hasler’s first professional season with Lake Erie, he compiled a 3.08 ERA over 32 games and 38 innings. He struck out 44 batters for a K/9 clip of 10.4.
Over his two seasons in the Frontier League, Hasler has appeared in 70 total games and 105 innings, compiling an ERA of 2.40 and ten saves. In that time he has struck out 133 batters for a K/9 of 11.4.
His accomplishments with the Crushers made Hasler a target for the Arizona Diamondbacks who signed the six foot, 190 pound right hander this past March after he had been working as a graduate manager for his alma mater, Louisiana Tech.
Hasler transferred to Louisiana Tech after a successful NJCAA All-American career at Mesa CC. Where in only his sophomore season posted a 9-1 record and a 1.93 ERA over 102.1 innings of work. Over his two seasons with the Bulldogs, Hasler appeared in 36 games, seven starts and held together a 3.63 ERA. With an 8-5 record and 11 saves to his name he also racked up 82 strikeouts to just 57 walks.
Pitching primarily as the closer during his senior season in Rustin, he led Louisiana Tech with seven saves, third most in Conference USA. Allowing only three of his thirteen inherited runners to score and was named to the 2018 Conference USA All Academic team.
Hasler has always put his education first earning a membership in the National Honor Society and graduating from Hamilton High School as a Distinguished Scholar. At Hamilton High School, he twice broke the school ERA record, first setting it his junior year with a sparkling 1.94 mark before besting his own mark with a 1.48 ERA his senior season.
The Sioux City Explorers 29th year in Siouxland will begin at MercyOne Field at Lewis and Clark Park on May 18th versus the Houston Apollos. There will be an open house for our brand new box office and team shop on April 23rd beginning at noon. Tickets purchased that day at the box office will be 50{01592211ad1b0494c7248995e911e96871ba37b405f80c3a4a03e9f8c4b21653} off and new team merchandise purchased at the team store that day will be 20{01592211ad1b0494c7248995e911e96871ba37b405f80c3a4a03e9f8c4b21653} off.