The Sioux City Explorers have announced that the Milwaukee Brewers have purchased the contract of Kent Hasler and the Arizona Diamondbacks have purchased the contract of DJ Burt.
Kent Hasler has now twice signed with the X’s, and once again will not be included in the bullpen. He signed with the Explorers prior to the 2020 season being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He still found a place to play after being selected 33rd overall in the American Association Supplemental Draft by the Winnipeg Goldeyes.
Hasler was an NJCAA All-American at Mesa CC where he pitched for two years before transferring to Louisiana Tech. As a Bulldog Hasler pitched in 36 games, starting seven with a 3.63 ERA. Hasler finished his time at Louisiana with an 8-5 record and 11 saves.
Fresh out of college, Hasler signed with the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League in 2018. In two seasons with the Crushers, Hasler held a 2.55 ERA. As a late game reliever and closer, Hasler finished the 2019 season with 7 saves and a 2.01 ERA through 38 games. He struck out 89 batters in that span.
Following his stint with the Lake Erie Crushers, the right hander ended up playing in the American Association with the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Hasler found even more success in his lone season with Winnipeg. In 22 appearances he had a 1.84 ERA striking out 41 batters.
Hasler becomes the 25th Sioux City Explorer to have his contract purchased by a major league organization since the end of the 2015 season.
DJ Burt was a fourth round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals back in 2014 out of Fuquay-Varina High School in North Carolina. He has spent all six seasons in professional baseball with the Royals, reaching as high as Double-A.
Burt in his career has showcased elite speed and base stealing ability. In 533 affiliate minor league games, the 25 year old has 160 stolen bases. Other than his rookie year in 2014, in which he played in only 49 games, Burt has stolen at least 18 bases in a season. He has finished in the top ten each year in stolen bases since 2015. In three straight campaigns from 2016-18, Burt stole at least 32 bases, including a career high 43 in 2016 with Single-A, Lexington.
In 2018, Burt was named a Carolina League All-Star when playing for the High-A, Wilmington Blue Rocks. In 111 games he hit at a .280 clip, scoring 72 runs, with 14 doubles and seven triples and swiping 32 bags.
The North Carolina native’s final season with Kansas City was in 2019 with Double-A, Northwest Arkansas. Reaching his highest level in the farm system, he appeared in 80 hames hitting .226. He scored 24 times, driving in 13 with seven doubles and 26 stolen bases.
Over his career with the Royals, Burt hit .253, scoring 295 runs with 63 doubles and 27 triples.
Burt spent two winters playing in the ABL with the Melbourne Aces. In 55 total games with Melbourne between 2018 and 2019, Burt hit for a .338 batting average with 21 stolen bases, 38 runs scored, and 22 RBI. He played alongside current Explorers, Nate Samson and Patrick Ledet in 2019 helping guide the Aces to the Claxton Shield and an ABL title.
Burt becomes the 24th Sioux City Explorer to have his contract purchased by a major league organization since the end of the 2015 season.