712.277.WINS (9467)

HORSTMAN, VIEITEZ, and CAPORICE SIGN WITH X’s

SIOUX CITY, IA – The Sioux City Explorers announced today that the club has re-signed LHP Ryan Horstman and signed RHP Ryan Caporice to 2019 American Association contracts. The Explorers also announced that the club has acquired RHP Ivan Vieitez from the Schaumburg Boomers (Frontier League) in exchange for a player to be named later. The X’s have signed Vieitez to an American Association contract for the 2019 season. The 2019 season marks Horstman’s 7^th season in professional baseball and Vieitz’s 5^th season in professional baseball, while Caporice will be making his professional baseball debut in 2019 with the X’s.

Horstman was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 4^th round of the 2013 MLB Draft from St. John’s University. Horstman appeared in 35 games for the X’s last season, owning a 3.06 ERA. In 32.1 innings pitched, the southpaw allowed only 26 hits while racking up 47 strikeouts. Horstman had an impressive stretch of 14 consecutive appearances, spanning from June 23^rd-July 29^th, in which he did not allow a run and surrendered just 5 hits during the span.

Horstman spent his first 5 professional seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization. The Coram, NY native has dealt with injuries throughout most of his career which limited him to just 16 games and 21.1 innings pitched in his first 3 professional seasons. Despite that, Horstman was selected to pitch for the Peoria Javelinas in the prestigious Arizona Fall League in 2015 where the lefty impressed, owning a miniscule 0.93 ERA in 9 games. For his efforts, Horstman spent the majority of the following two seasons at the Double-A level before being released by the Mariners in 2017.

Vieitez was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 27^th round of the 2015 MLB Draft from Lenoir-Rhyne College (Hickory, NC). Vieitez spent three seasons in the Dodgers organization, reaching as high as Double-A in 2017 playing for the Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League. Vieitez made a brief stop in the American Association in 2017, making 7 appearances with the St. Paul Saints. Vieitez pitched last season in the Frontier League with the Schaumburg Boomers where the righty owned an impressive 2.03 ERA in 38 games (all in relief).  

Caporice pitched collegiately at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL and will be making his professional debut in 2019. Caporice is from Thonotosassa, FL and during his senior season at Jesuit High School, the righty posted a 1.40 ERA and limited opposing hitters to a .062 batting average.

With the signings of Horstman, Vieitez, and Caporice, the Explorers now have 9 players (7 pitchers, 2 position players) signed to 2019 American Association contracts.

The Explorers 2019 home opener will be Thursday, May 16^th versus the Lincoln Saltdogs in a 7:12pm contest. Get in the game with the Sioux City Explorers by reserving your 2019 season ticket packages, flex ticket packages, or company group outing now by calling 712-277-WINS (9467).