Bio
Derek West joins Sioux City following a stint in the Mexican League, where he spent the past two seasons across multiple clubs.
In 2025, West split the year between the Bravos de León and the Leones de Yucatán. He signed with León in March and made eight appearances (six starts), posting a 1–4 record and a 7.45 ERA before being released in June. He then joined Yucatán in July, delivering a strong stretch with a 3.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 16.1 innings before his release in November.
West began his Mexican League career in 2024 with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes after being released by the Houston Astros that March. He went 6–2 with a 5.18 ERA and 59 strikeouts across 73 innings in 16 starts.
Before heading to Mexico, West spent 2023 with Double‑A Corpus Christi, recording a 5.54 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 10 games. In 2022, he split the season between High‑A Asheville and Corpus Christi, compiling a 4.45 ERA, 68 strikeouts, and six saves in 39 relief outings while touching 98 mph with his fastball.
In 2021, West pitched for the FCL Astros and Asheville, making eight appearances with a 6.52 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 9.2 innings after missing the 2020 season due to the COVID‑19 cancellation.
West made his professional debut in 2019 with the Tri‑City ValleyCats after being selected by Houston in the 14th round of the MLB Draft, posting a 6.75 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 13 outings.
His amateur career at the University of Pittsburgh included a standout 2019 season (3.82 ERA, 82 strikeouts in 68.1 innings), a strong 2018 campaign (3.24 ERA, 47 strikeouts in 50 innings), and a summer with the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod League. Earlier years were marked by recovery from Tommy John surgery and major knee ligament repair.
A product of Trinity Christian Academy after transferring from University High School in Florida, West reached 94 mph as a senior and committed to Pitt before embarking on a professional career that included international competition with the Netherlands in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.