712.277.WINS (9467)

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers have once again bolstered their line-up in a big way. Today the X's announced the signing of 2B Andres Perez.  Perez joins the X’s after 3 very successful seasons in the Independent Atlantic League.

Perez, a 29-year-old native of New York, NY signed with the New York Yankees as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He spent two seasons (2007 & 2008) in the Yankees organization before starting his independent career with the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League in 2009. In only 64 games with Newark, Perez collected 70 hits, 17 homeruns and 54 RBI’s to go along with a .306 batting average and .611 slugging percentage.  For his efforts, his contract was picked up by the Los Angeles Dodgers and he played the final 26 games of the 2009 season with the Inland Empire 66ers of the California League and hit .340. Between the two clubs in 2009, he accumulated 105 hits, 18 doubles, 22 homeruns and 74 RBI’s while hitting .316.  Andres returned to San Bernardino, CA with the 66ers in 2010, but was limited to just 41 games.

Perez signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Independent Atlantic league in 2011 and had another great season hitting .313, while collecting 106 hits, 23 doubles, 15 homeruns and driving in 54 RBI’s.  Perez joined the York Revolution of the Independent Atlantic League in 2012 and had a huge season.  After playing in the league’s mid-season All-Star Game, Perez was honored as a postseason First Team Atlantic League All-Star and capped off a spectacular season by landing a spot on the prestigious Baseball America’s All-Independent Team. On the year, Perez  lead the league in total bases (271), tied for third in extra-base hits (61), ranked fourth in the league in batting average (.314), home runs (23), hits (161) and runs scored (86), tied for fourth in doubles (35), fifth in RBI (86) and slugging percentage (.529).  In 2013, Andres compiled a .290 batting average to go along with a whopping 38 doubles, 13 homeruns and 71 RBI’s.

In 412 games at the independent baseball level, Perez has scored 264 runs, collected 488 hits, 107 doubles, and hit 68 homeruns while driving in 265 runners.

“Andres is a tremendous addition to our line-up as he has proven to be a threat every time he steps up to the plate with his ability to hit for power and average to drive in runs,” comments field manager Steve Montgomery.

In other team news, the X’s have placed C Alberto Espinosa and INF Kevin Moesquit on irrevocable waivers and both players are now free agents.

The Explorers 2014 home opener is Saturday, May 17^th versus the Sioux Falls Canaries.  RESERVE YOUR 2014 SEASON TICKETS/MINI PLANS/GROUP OUTINGS NOW BY CALLING 712-277-WINS (9467).