712.277.WINS (9467)

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers have bulked up their starting rotation by acquiring RHP Alex Caldera in a trade with the Laredo Lemurs of the American Association and signing former LA Dodgers and Kansas City Royals farmhand, Elisaul Pimentel.

To obtain the rights to RHP Alex Caldera, the X’s sent the playing rights of LHP Edgar Osuna to the Lemurs. Caldera was acquired by the Lemurs this past December in a trade with the Fargo Moorhead Redhawks.

Caldera was originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 13^th round of the 2007 MLB June amateur draft out of Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.  Caldera spent four years (2007-2010) in the Royals organization while reaching the AA level in 2010 as a member of the Northwest Arkansas Travelers in the Texas League.  Caldera began the 2011 season with the Fargo Moorhead Redhawks of the American Association and compiled a 7-3 record with a 3.07 ERA in 73.1 innings of work before having his contract purchased by the Florida Marlins organization. 

Caldera returned to the Redhawks in 2012 and had another outstanding season, as he finished fifth in the American Association in wins (10), while compiling a 3.50 ERA in 123.1 innings of work.  Alex returned to the Redhawks in 2013 and had another great year by going 8-6 with a 4.32 ERA, while recording 97 strikeouts in 114.2 innings.  For his three year Independent league career in the American Association, Caldera is 25-13 (.658 winning percentage) with a 3.70 ERA and has recorded 251 strikeouts in 311.1 innings.

Pimentel joins the X’s in 2014 for his first season of Independent baseball after playing the previous 6 seasons in the Dodgers and Royals organizations.  The 25-year-old Santiago, Dominican Republic native began his career in 2007 with the Dodgers Dominican Summer league team. After 3 seasons with the Dodgers organization, Pimentel spent another 3 seasons with the Royals organization and reached the AA level with the Royals Texas League team in Northwest Arkansas before being released out of spring training in 2013.  For his 6 year minor league career, Pimentel has appeared in 110 games (85 starts) and has logged 505.2 innings, while accumulating a 3.99 ERA and has recorded 431 strikeouts while only allowing 162 walks.

“We’re very excited about landing two very experienced arms to our pitching staff,” commented X’s Field Manager Steve Montgomery. “Caldera is a guy that has proved over multiple seasons he knows how to win in this league and Elisaul is someone I cannot wait to see in spring training as all of the reports I have received are very positive.”

The 2014 regular season will kick off on May 15^th, when the X’s travel up to Sioux Falls to take on the Canaries for two games before returning to Lewis & Clark Park for the 2014 home opener versus the Canaries on Saturday, May 17^th.  Reserve your 2014 season tickets, flex tickets, or reserve your company group outing now by calling 712-277-9467!