The Sioux City Explorers have announced the signing of INF L.T. Tolbert.
L.T. Tolbert will be entering his 3rd season of professional baseball in 2021.
A two-time draftee, Tolbert was drafted first by the Mets in the 34th round of 2015 MLB draft out of IMG Academy. He chose not to sign and instead went on to the University of South Carolina. The left-handed hitting infielder was drafted again in 2018 by the Diamondbacks in the 13th round.
In three years at South Carolina, Tolbert improved in batting average and RBI’s each season. As a freshman, Tolbert earned Freshman All-SEC honors. The utility infielder finished his third year hitting .322 with 8 home runs and 56 RBIs. Those marks helped earn him a spot on the 2018 SEC All-Tournament team and the 2018 Greenville Regional All-tournament team. Tolbert would end his college career ranked the number 35 best prospect in the SEC.
The 6’2”, 200 lb. infielder found success in the Diamondbacks farm system as well, reaching as high as Double A Jackson. In 2 seasons with Arizona, Tolbert hit a strong .299 with 72 RBI’s over 142 games.
Bouncing around the infield, Tolbert showed off his versatility playing at third, short, second, and first base. He would settle in at second base playing a majority of his games there. His strong defensive reputation is backed by his .976 fielding percentage as a professional player.
Tolbert did not play during the 2020 season and this year will be his first in independent baseball.
The Sioux City Explorers 29th year in Siouxland will begin at MercyOne Field at Lewis and Clark Park on May 18th versus the Houston Apollos. Season, Group and Single Game Tickets are now all on sale and can be purchased by calling (712) 277-9467.