Explorers Save The Best For Last
Published on April 20, 2010 under American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
SIOUX CITY, IA - The Sioux City Explorers announced today that they have signed local Sioux City baseball phenom RHP Joe Bisenius to a 2010 American Association contract. Bisenius joins an already impressive bullpen that includes RHP Brett Reid, RHP Mike Phelps, and RHP Eddie Delacruz.
Bisenius comes to the Sioux City Explorers in 2010, following (6) seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, that seen him reach the Phillies MLB roster in 2007. Joe was selected in the 12th round of the 2004 draft and began his career with the Phillies minor league team in Batavia, NY, where he posted a 0-1 record with an astonishing 1.43 earned run average in (11) starts, while recording (38) strikeouts to only (14) walks.
In 2005, Joe was a member of the Lakewood Blue Claws and compiled a 6-4 record with a 5.88 ERA in 64.1 innings of work with (4) starts and (4) saves, while holding opposing hitters to a .238 average against.
Bisenius was optioned to Clearwater in the Florida State League to start the 2006 season and had an impressive season in his first full season coming out of the bullpen by going 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA while striking out 62 batters in 60.2 innings of work. For his efforts, he was promoted to AA Reading to finish the 2006 season. In 23.1 innings of work, he struck out 33 batters to go along with a 4-2 record and 3.09 ERA.
In 2007, Bisenius made the Phillies Major League roster and did not give up a run in 2.0 innings of work while fanning 3 batters an only allowing 2 hits before being sent to AAA to finish the 2007 season with a 3-4 record, while striking out 41 batters in 46 innings of work out of the bullpen. In 2008, Joe began the season with the Phillies AAA team in Lehigh Valley where he struck out 21 batters in 21.2 innings before being sent to the Phillies AA team in Reading where he finished the season with a 3.43 ERA in 42.0 innings of work.
In 2009, Bisenius split time between with the Phillies minor league teams in Reading (AA), Lehigh Valley (AAA), Clearwater (A), and Gulf Coast League affiliate.
"Signing a local kid is always a big plus for any independent team, but in this case we were able to add a Major League arm that will be a huge addition to our bullpen in the later innings," comments manager Les Lancaster. "Watching Joe throw this past weekend, he definitely has a live arm and if he can come in here and produce, he will have a great opportunity to get back to the affiliated ranks."
A former bat boy with the Sioux City Explorers, Bisenius is a 2001 graduate of Sioux City Heelan and attended Iowa Western Community College, where we was drafted by the Expos (2003, did not sign) after his second season, but he enrolled at Oklahoma State, then transferred to Oklahoma City College.
Joe was born and raised in Sioux City, IA and currently lives in Omaha, NE.
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