2010 Spinners Season Preview
Lowell Spinners 2010 Preview
By: Colby Garrapy
LOWELL, MA: One more day and counting until the 2010 Lowell Spinners take the field against the Vermont Lake Monsters.
One day after the Spinners made their first Fan Fest appearance in Nashua, NH, the roster was released revealing which future Sox will be spending their summer in Lowell. The Spinners have had two playoff births in the past two seasons, but obtaining the New York Penn League Championship is in their sights going into 2010. The team that will be taking the field has many new comers along with some returnees. With their new look and the new coaching staff lead by, Bruce Crabbe, the Spinners are set to claim their place at the top of the league.
Those returning from last year include: Cesare Angeloni, Carson Blair, Chia-Chu Chen, Drew Dominguez, and Sean Killeen. Angelonia will be a member of the pitching staff, while Blair and Chen will handle the pitchers from behind the plate. Dominguez and Killeen will be doing their part in the infield. The rest of the roster is coming from all over. Some right from college and high school after being drafted while others have come from other organizations. Most of the players are made up Gulf Coast League Sox from a year ago.
Whoever the roster consists of, these guys must come together and play as a team while further developing their skills at this level. Some will advance before others, and new players will come in, but at their age they must adjust to the changes and concentrate on the team and helping them win. If they can do that, their presence in the clubhouse can do all it needs to in order to help them advance through the system.
A preview at each position:
Catcher
The 2010 roster has two returning catchers in Blair and Chen, along with two comers in Jayson Hernandez from Rutgers, and Josue Peley, from the Pirates organization. Blair only played in one game for the Spinners last season, spending the majority of his time in the GCL where he batted .210, displaying excellent patience at the plate compiling 16 walks in 124 at bats. Chen was the primary backstop in 2009. Playing in 23 games for the Spinners, he batted .188. Peley began the season in the Pirates organization playing for the West Virginia Power where he batted .179. Hernandez is a recent draft pick from the 2010 draft. At Rutgers, Hernandez batted .281 with 4 HR in 142 games.
Corner Infield
Returning to the Spinners is first baseman Sean Killeen. Killeen batted .250 in 23 games last season, going 19-76 at the plate. The others include David Renfroe, Miles Head, and recently drafted Kolbrin Vitek. Renfroe, who was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2009 draft didn’t play professionally last year. This will be his first season in pro ball. Miles Head played for the GCL Sox last season batting .103 in 10 games. Lastly, Kolbrin Vitek, was the Sox number one draft pick in 2010. Through three seasons for Ball State, he combined for a .358 average, 35 HR, and 159 RBI in 143 games.
Middle Infield
Returning to handle the middle of the infield will be Drew Dominguez. With Lowell last season, Dominguez batted .184 in 14 games for Lowell. Playing second base for the Spinners, Dominguez only committed 3 errors in 45 chances. The new comers include Joantoni Garcia, Jose Garcia, and Nick Robinson. Nick Robinson, recently drafted in the 39th round of the 2010 draft comes from North Central College. After four seasons at NCC, Robinson combined for a .355 average, 4 HR, and 83 RBI in 143 games. Joantoni began play in Greenville this season batting .200 with 5 RBI in 55 at bats. Jose played for the GCL Sox last season, going 36-168, combining for a .293 avg, with 2 HR.
Outfield
The Spinners will see four new players tracking down fly balls in the outfield this season. Three of which are coming from the GCL Sox, Brandon Jacobs, Felix Sanchez, and Seth Schwindenhammer. The other is recently drafted, Bryce Brentz, from Middle Tennessee State. Jacobs batted .250 in 8 games, Sanchez batted .291 with 10 SB in 40 games, and Schwindenhammer had a .194 avg in 36 games. Brentz put up astonishing numbers for MTS. In 161 games, Brentz batted .385, with 61 HR, and 190 RBI.
Pitching
The only pitcher returning from the 2009 Spinners will be Chez Angeloni. 12 new pitchers will be making an appearance in Lowell this season. Three are coming from the GCL, Hunter Cervenka, Randy Consuegra, and Tyler Wilson. Three are joining the Spinners from the Greenville Drive, including Roman Mendez, Charle Rosario, and Kyle Rutter. One fro Salem in Armando Zerpa, while the rest include, Keith Couch (‘10/ Rnd 13), Stephen Fox (Can-Am League), Wilson Matos (Jamestown Jammers), Garret Rau (‘10/ Rnd 12), and Madison Younginger (‘09/ Rnd 7).
The roster shows many, that the hopes of returning to the playoffs in 2010 seem very likely. the Spinners are fielding a young, experienced, and quick team this year. Taking advantage of these attributes will likely exploit others defenses and pitching. To go along with that, Vitek and Brentz bring a powerful duo to Lowell, combining for almost 100 HR between them throughout their college careers. Whatever the case, the Spinners are in action and ready to take down the NY Penn League.
Play Ball!
The Spin on the Spinners 
Go Tyler Wilson! Your family and friends in Georgia are pulling for you and the team! Good Luck