Lowell Spinners

Lowell Spinners
Founded in 1996
Lowell, Massachusetts since 1996
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current Short-Season A
Minor league affiliations
League New York–Penn League
Division Stedler Division
Major league affiliations
Current Boston Red Sox (1996–present)
Minor league titles
League titles (1) 1976
Division titles (2)
  • 2008
  • 2009
Team data
Nickname Lowell Spinners (1996–present)
Previous names
 Elmira Pioneers (1973–1995)
Ballpark Edward A. LeLacheur Park (1998–present)
Previous parks
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 Drew Weber
Manager Joe Oliver
General Manager Tim Bawmann
Media Lowell Sun
Mill City Sports
WCAP

The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

History

Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York–Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a year. The Spinners play 38 of the 76 games at their home park, Edward A. LeLacheur Park, in Lowell, near the Merrimack River. The official mascots of the Spinners are Canaligator, Allie-Gator, and Millie-Gator. They were introduced on 1/19/1996, 7/8/1999, and Opening Day 2006, respectively.

In 2005, the Spinners offered to pay for the uniforms to all Little Leagues in New England so that they would change all teams named "Yankees" into "Spinners".[1]

In 2007 WLLH 1400 AM (at that time Lowell's ESPN Radio affiliate) was the flagship of Lowell Spinners baseball, after several years on Lowell talk station WCAP. As of 2008, Spinners games are back on WCAP.[2]

On September 1, 2008, the Spinners reached the NYPL (New York–Penn League) playoffs for the first time capturing the Stedler Division title. The Lowell Spinners reached the playoffs in 2009, and have not reached them since.

At of the conclusion of the 2008 Spinners season, the franchise had sold out the past 346 games dating back to prior decade. In August 2010 the streak was snapped at 413 games.

In 2011, Lowell Spinners owner Drew Weber founded the newly formed Futures Collegiate Baseball League with a charter franchise, the Nashua Silver Knights at Holman Stadium in Nashua, NH.

In October 2014 the Red Sox agreed to extend their player development contract with the Spinners for two more years through the 2016 season.[3]

Spinners alumni

Kevin Youkilis broke into pro baseball with the 2001 Spinners, and batted .317 in 59 games; he also drew 70 bases on balls and earned the nickname "The Greek God of Walks," although he is of Jewish, not Greek, descent.
Spinners warming up at LeLacheur Park, 2009

Roster

Lowell Spinners roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  •   Jose Almonte
  •   Roberto Cancio
  •   Enmanuel de Jesus
  •   Kevin Kelleher
  •   Trevor Kelley
  •   Enfember Martinez
  •   Javier Rodriguez
  •   Kevin Steen
  •   Daniel Zandona

Catchers

  •   Jhon Nunez

Infielders

  •   Victor Acosta
  •   Carlos Tovar
  •   Tucker Tubbs

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches


7-day disabled list
* On Boston Red Sox 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated on May 8, 2016
Season begins on June 17
Transactions
→ More MiLB rosters
→ Boston Red Sox minor league players

References

  1. ↑ Todd Civin (March 2, 2010). "Lowell Spinners Enter Fifth Year Of Yankee Elimination Program". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 30, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Spinners radio broadcast returns: The entire 2008 season to be broadcast on the new 980 WCAP Radio". New York–Penn League. November 2, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
  3. ↑ RedSoxMLB.com – Red Sox, Lowell extend player development deal through '16

External links

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