712.277.WINS (9467)

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today the re-signing of former New York Yankees farmhand, Luke Murton. He joins OF Peter Barrows as the only two offensive holdovers from the 2013 season.

“Adding Murton back in the mix gives us some additional versatility and another threat in the middle of our order”, commented X’s field manager, Steve Montgomery.

Drafted by the Yankees in the 19^th Round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Georgia Tech, Murton played 5 seasons (2009-2013) with the Yankees organization. Luke began his career in 2009 with the Staten Island Yankees in the New York Penn League and on the year Murton accumulated a .295 batting average to go along with 17 doubles, 8 homeruns, and 35 RBI’s.  In 2010, Murton was named a South Atlantic League Mid-Season All-Star with the Charleston Riverdogs, the Single-A affiliate of the Yankees. That year, the McDonough, Georgia native, hit .282 in 397 at bats with 112 hits, 32 doubles, two triples and 12 home runs.

The 2011 season seen Murton play in 116 games for the Yankees Florida State League team in Tampa, FL, where he collected 28 doubles, 8 homeruns and 62 RBI’s, while hitting .274.  In 2012 with the Double-A Trenton Thunder, the 27-year-old hit .249 with 116 hits, 21 doubles, two triples and 25 home runs, in 466 at-bats.

After appearing in 23 games at the Triple-A level in Scranton/Wilkes Barre, Murton joined the X’s to finish the 2013 season.  On the year for the X’s, Murton collected 71 hits in 74 games while producing 12 doubles, 6 homeruns and 34 RBI’s to go along with a .255 batting average.

Over 5 professional seasons, Murton has hit .266 in 1,881 at-bats with 112 doubles, six triples and 59 home runs, while driving in 260 runs.

In other news, the X’s have granted OF Yusuke Inoguchi his unconditional release to allow Inoguchi to play the 2014 season back in Japan.  The X’s now have (24) players signed for the 2014 season, including 14 pitchers and 10 position players.

2014 single game tickets are on sale now. Call 712-277-WINS to reserve your 9-Innings of Vacation or stop down to the X’s Box Office located at Lewis & Clark Park.