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SIOUX CITY - Sioux City Explorers manager Steve Montgomery announced today that the baseball club has signed former Minnesota Twins Major League outfielder Rene Tosoni and 1B/3B Tommy Mendonca.  The X’s have also placed veteran outfielder Leonard Davis and INF Leugim Barroso on irrevocable waivers for the purpose of granting them their release.

“Being able to land a former major leaguer in Tosoni and a former second round pick in Mendonca provide a huge boost to our line-up and both will add leadership on the field and in our clubhouse”, stated field manager, Steve Montgomery.

Tosoni, 27, a product of Toronto, Ontario, Canada was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 35^th round of the 2005 MLB June amateur draft. He played six seasons in Twin’s system and made his major league debut with the Twins on April 28^th, 2011, Rene played in 60 Major Leagues games for the Twins in 2011. During his time with the Twins, Rene played parts of four seasons (2009-2012) at the Double-A or Triple-A level. In four seasons at the Double-A level, Tosoni appeared in 365 games and collected 323 hits, 60 doubles, 33 homeruns, while accumulating a .253 batting average and 152 RBI’s.

His best statistical year was in 2009 as a member of the New Britain Rock Cats in the Eastern League, as he appeared in 122 games and tallied 115 hits and 25 doubles, 15 homeruns, 71 runs batted in to go along with a .271 batting average.  In 2013, Tosoni played with the Milwaukee Brewers Double-A affiliate in Huntsville, AL. For the season, Rene played in 131 games while collecting 106 hits, 17 doubles, 11 homeruns and 46 RBI’s.

Mendonca was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 MLB draft by the Texas Rangers out of California State University Fresno in Fresno, CA.  Mendonca began his career in 2009, where he split time between the Rangers Northwest League team in Spokane, WA and their California League team in Bakersville, CA.  For the year, he collected 67 hits in 60 games, while producing 15 doubles, 9 homeruns and 28 RBI’s, while hitting .290.  In 2010, Tommy spent the entire season in Bakersville, where he produced 104 hits in 120 games, while collecting 38 extra base hits and 47 RBI’S to go with a .248 batting average. 

Mendonca had his best statistical season in 2011 as a member of the Rangers Double-A affiliate in Frisco, TX.  With the Frisco Roughriders, Tommy accumulated 140 hits in 125 games, while hitting 27 doubles, 25 homeruns and collecting 87 RBI’s to go along with a .278 batting average. For his efforts, Mendonca was promoted to Triple-A for the remaining 63 games.  The Turlock, CA resident started the 2013 season in the Independent Atlantic League before having his contract purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies.  Tommy appeared in 40 games for the Phillies Double-A affiliate in Reading

The Explorers now have 23 players signed to 2014 contracts, including 14 pitchers and 9 position players.