Photo of Malek Bolin (#24) by Luke Zayas/True To The Cru
SIOUX CITY, S.D.-UMHB baseball alum Malek Bolin will be donning a new uniform when the 2023 season begins.
Currently playing in the professional ranks, Bolin signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association on Saturday. It marks his second stop with a professional team, as he began his pro career following his senior year with the Crusaders this past summer.
Bolin joined the Utica Unicorns of the United Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) in late May, making his debut in an 8-2 win for Utica on May 20 as the starting first baseman. He was 2-for-3 in that contest, scoring a run, and finished the 45-game season second on the team in batting average (.326). He started in 39 of the 40 games he played in, tallying 22 runs scored, 29 RBIs, and five home runs. Bolin also posted a fielding percentage of .992.
That success came on the heels of a collegiate season in which he earned All-Region recognition from D3baseball.com, and the ASC’s Player of the Year award. The Fort Worth native set new program records behind his powerful swing, with 33 career home runs, 15 during the 2022 season, and 55 RBIs. He led the conference in both homers and RBIs, as well as total bases (119).
Sioux City is one of the premier organizations in the American Association, and coming off a disappointing 2022 season in which the Explorers missed the postseason for the first time since 2017, with a 49-51 record. Hopes are high as the 2023 campaign begins on May 12 and within the first month of the season, Bolin will make a return trip to his home state, when Sioux Falls visits the Cleburne Railroaders for a four-game series from May 29-June 1.
