Sam Held, from Stockton, Calif., was acquired during the offseason in a trade with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association. In 2019 with the Explorers, Held was 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 11 appearances, while striking out 25 in 30.1 innings. Held also has affiliated experience, spending three seasons in the Washington Nationals organization. The right-hander was drafted by the Nationals in the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft in the 29th round out of the University of Nevada. Held appeared for the Hagerstown Suns, Auburn Doubledays, Potomac Nationals, and the Gulf Coast Nationals. Overall in affiliated baseball, Held went 8-16 with a 3.89 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 70 appearances and 157.1 innings pitched.