Ellsbury Called Up to Boston

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is reporting that the Red Sox have called top prospect and ‘05 Spinner Jacoby Ellsbury up before tonight’s game. Ellsbury is in the lineup playing centerfield and batting eighth in place of Coco Crisp, who has a thumb injury.

Joel Pineiro was placed on the disabled list to make room for Ellsbury.

Do you remember Jacoby from the Spinners 2005 season? Leave a comment…!

Two Former Spinners Invited to Futures Game

2005 Spinners’ CF Jacoby Ellsbury and RHP Clay Buchholz will play in the All-Star Futures Game during the major league All-Star weekend at AT&T Park in San Francisco. 

Buchholz was a supplemental first round pick by the Red Sox in the 2005 draft.  He posted a 2.61 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 41.1 innings for the Spinners.  This year he has a 6-2 record with a 1.79 ERA for Double-A Portland.

 Ellsbury was the Red Sox first round pick (23rd overall) in 2005.  He hit .317 in 35 games for the Spinners.  This year he is hitting .323  with 29 stolen bases between Portland and Pawtucket. 

Behind the Scenes with the Spinners’ Mascot

Check out this article about Canaligator by Darren Garnick of the Boston Herald.

For more insights check out this blog post. And for some tips from Canaligator himself go here.

If you ever go through the ‘gator changing area’ in the eighth inning you will have no doubt that our mascots are the hardest working people in the ballpark. A big salute to Steve(Canaligator), Mareena (Allie-Gator), and Alyson (Millie-Gator).

Bates Named TOPPS May Player of the Month

It was just announced that 2006 Lowell Spinner Aaron Bates was named a Minor League player of the month by TOPPS. The official release reads:

Aaron Bates (23) of Los Gatos, CA, set a California League record when he homered four times in a game on May 19. The Lancaster JetHawks first baseman hit .340 in May with seven doubles and 24 RBI. The cleanup hitter also showed a keen eye, walking 21 times in 28 games. The Boston Red Sox picked Bates in the third round in 2006 out of North Carolina State University.

Congratulations, Aaron!

 

Reid Engel Named Starter in All-Star Game

Former Lowell Spinner 2006 OF, Reid Engel, was named the starting right-fielder in the 48th Annual Southern Atlantic All-Star League! The excitment takes place on June 19th at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, Georgia.

As a fifth round selection in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Engel currently ranks fifth in the Boston Red Sox minor league system with a .314 batting average.

Way to go, Reid!

#26 - Brian Esposito

Today, Brian Esposito made his Major League debut, becoming the 25th former Lowell Spinner to make it big. Esposito, Lowell’s catcher in 2000, made his professional debut with the Spinners, batting .240 with three home runs and 20 runs batted in.

Signed by the Cardinals before the 2006 season, Esposito had played 406 Minor League games before his call-up to the Cardinals before Friday’s game. Known for his defense behind the plate, Esposito was a defensive replacement late in today’s 8-3 loss to Houston.

Congratulations, Brian!