Sioux City Explorers Add Cunningham, Overton, and Lomascolo
April 13, 2016 - American Association (AA)
Sioux City Explorers News Release
SIOUX CITY, IA - The Sioux City Explorers announced today that the club has signed INF Jarek Cunningham, RHP Connor Overton, and LHP Nick Lomascolo to 2016 American Association contracts.
Cunningham was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft from Mount Spokane HS (Mead, WA). Cunningham would spend 6 years in the Pirates organization, playing the majority of his games at the Double-A level. In 2011, Cunningham was named to the Pirates prospects organizational All-Star team at second base after an impressive season with the High-A Bradenton Marauders where he hit 15 home runs, which was tied for second most in the Pirates farm system. He was leading the Florida State League in extra-base hits (44) before his season ended early due to injury. For his efforts, Baseball America ranked Cunningham as the Pittsburgh Pirates #13 prospect. The Spokane, WA native led the Double-A Altoona Curve in homeruns with 19 in 2013, which was also 8th most in the entire Eastern League. For his performance, Cunningham was named a mid-season All-Star, starting at second base for the East All-Stars where he went 1-2 with an RBI in the game. Cunningham spent last season in the Dodgers organization after signing as a free-agent and spent the majority of the season playing for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers.
Overton was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 15th round of the 2014 June Amateur Draft from Old Dominion University. He would spend a year and a half in the Marlins organization playing for their affiliates in Batavia, NY and Greensboro, NC. Overton would finish the 2015 season pitching in the Washington Nationals organization making 13 appearances after signing mid-season, finishing the year pitching for the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, picking up a win out of the bullpen.
Lomascolo was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 34th round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft following an impressive collegiate career at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC. Lomascolo was named to the 2011 First Team South Atlantic All-Conference Team as a senior, posting a 10-3 record with the league's lowest ERA at 2.14. Lomascolo finished his career as the school's all-time winningest pitcher with 36 wins and most career strikeouts with 377. The left hander pitched 3 seasons in the Cardinals organization, appearing in 80 games while owning an impressive 2.59 ERA. In 135.1 career innings pitched, Lomascolo allowed only 98 hits while racking up 162 strikeouts to just 73 walks.
With the signings of Cunningham, Overton, and Lomascolo the Explorers now have 10 position players and 9 pitchers signed to 2016 American Association contracts.
The Explorers 2016 Home Opener will be Thursday, May 19th versus the Sioux Falls Canaries in a 7:00pm contest. Get in the game with the X's by reserving your 2016 season tickets or company group outing now by calling 712-277-WINS (9467).
• Discuss this story on the American Association message board...
American Association Stories from April 13, 2016
- Canaries Announce 2016 Catching Corps - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Sioux City Explorers Add Cunningham, Overton, and Lomascolo - Sioux City Explorers
- Goldeyes Add Experienced Outfielder - Winnipeg Goldeyes
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
