Patrick Ledet was traded to Sioux City from the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League in exchange for a player to be named later.

Ledet is a southpaw from Nacodoches, Texas who will be entering his fifth season of professional baseball and first with the Explorers.

Despite what was a turbulent summer in professional baseball, Ledet did play in 2020. He started seven games for the Sugar Land Lightning Sloths of the Constellation Energy League. A four team independent league based out of Sugarland, Texas.

He held a 4.70 ERA and compiled a 1-2 record with 23 innings of work. In that time he struck out 21 (8.2 K/9) and walked nine (3.5 BB/9).

The lone 2019 season spent in Lake Erie produced career best numbers for the lefty. He made 19 starts and went 6-4 with a career low 2.34 ERA. Tossed 119.1 innings, tallying 109 strikeouts (8.2 K/9) making it the first time he reached the century mark in punch outs in a season. The stellar season earned the six foot, 187 pound lefty a spot on the Frontier League All-Star Team.

Last winter Ledet was a part of a championship team in Australia. Teaming up with Explorer names such as Nate Samson and Liam O’Sullivan, Ledet helped guide the Melbourne Aces to a championship with a 3-2 record and a 5.70 ERA over ten starts.

The first two seasons of Ledet’s career were both spent with the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League where combined he went 8-10 over 33 trips to the mound with 17 of those being starts. In 120 innings of work he held a 4.42 ERA, striking out 107 batters over that time.

Collegiately Ledet stayed in state playing at Stephen F Austin in the Southland Conference. Pitching for the Lumberjacks all four seasons he went 16-12 with a 4.05 ERA in 70 games and 31 starts. He racked up 173 strikeouts in that time to just 78 walks. He made the transition from bullpen arm to starter between his Sophomore and Junior seasons.

With the trade the Explorers now hold the rights to Ledet but will still need to sign him to a contract for the upcoming 2021 season.

By Connor Ryan, Sioux City Explorers