Major League Spinners
Since Wilton Veras made his Major League Debut with the Boston Red Sox July 1, 1999, a stream of former Spinners have continued to follow the path blazed by Veras to the Major Leagues. Be it with the Red Sox or else where, 108 former Spinners have made the trek from Lowell to the big leagues. Photos of each former Spinner line the walls of both the front office and the locker room in the Spinners' "Wall of Fame." Who will be added next?
To be considered for this list, players must have dressed for the Lowell Spinners, whether they appear in a game with the team or not [Pitchers Matt Barnes and Noe Ramirez were with the team in 2011 and pitchers Anthony Ranaudo and Brandon Workman were with the team for a month in 2010, but did not appear in a game]. Players who are beyond their first-year of professional baseball and on rehab assignment are not included. Players are added to the Spinner "Wall of Fame" after throwing at least one pitch in a Major League Game, play defensively in the field or receive an at-bat. Left-Handed pitcher Tom Cochran has been promoted to the big leagues, but did not appear in a game before returning to the Minor Leagues.
While these former Spinners have gone on to play Major League Baseball, one former Spinner went onto play in the major leagues in another sport. After five seasons of minor league baseball, including the 1996 season in Lowell, Corey Jenkins returned to college as a football player. After a standout career, Jenkins was drafted by the Miami Dolphins as a linebacker, making his NFL Debut in 2003. Jenkins played three seasons with the Dolphins and a season with the Chicago Bears. He is currently the defensive coordinator for Gray Military Academy in South Carolina. On the opposite side of the spectrum, linebacker Brandon Magee played two seasons in the NFL before giving baseball a try with the Spinners in 2015. Magee left the team in August of that season to attempt an NFL return.
Player |
Lowell |
Position |
Debut Team (Date/Opponent) |
Wilton Veras | 1996 | 3B | Boston Red Sox (July 1, 1999 vs. Tampa Bay) |
Steve Lomasney | 1996 | C | Boston Red Sox (Oct. 3, 1999 at Baltimore) |
Matt Kinney | 1996 | RHP | Minnesota Twins (Aug. 18, 2000) vs. Toronto) |
Jack Cressend | 1996 | RHP | Minnesota Twins (Aug. 26, 2000 vs. Detroit) |
Shea Hillenbrand | 1996 | 3B | Boston Red Sox (Apr. 2, 2001 at Baltimore) |
David Eckstein | 1997 | 2B | Anaheim Angels (Apr. 3, 2001 at Texas) |
Casey Fossum | 1999 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (July 28, 2001 vs. Chicago) |
Adam Everett | 1998 | SS | Houston Astros (Aug. 30, 2001 vs. Cincinnati) |
Angel Santos | 1998 | 2B | Boston Red Sox (Sept. 8, 2001 vs. Philadelphia) |
Mike Maroth | 1998 | LHP | Detroit Tigers (June 8, 2002 vs. Philadelphia) |
Freddy Sanchez | 2000 | 2B | Boston Red Sox (Sept. 10, 2002 at Tampa Bay) |
Josh Hancock | 1998 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (Sept. 10, 2002 at Tampa Bay) |
Rontrez Johnson | 1996 | OF | Kansas City Royals (Mar. 31, 2003 vs. Chicago) |
Lew Ford | 1999 | OF | Minnesota Twins (May 29, 2003 vs. Seattle) |
Kevin Youkilis | 2001 | 3B | Boston Red Sox (May 15, 2004 vs. Toronto) |
Anastacio Martinez | 1999 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (May 22, 2004 vs. Toronto) |
Abe Alvarez | 2003 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (July 22, 2004 vs. Baltimore) |
Marty McLeary | 1997 | RHP | San Diego Padres (Aug. 22, 2004 vs. Florida) |
Tony Blanco | 2000 | 3B | Washington Nationals (Apr. 4, 2005 vs. Philadelphia) |
Matt Murton | 2003 | OF | Chicago Cubs (July 8, 2005 at Florida) |
Jonathan Papelbon | 2003 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (July 31, 2005 vs. Minnesota) |
Hanley Ramirez | 2002 | SS | Boston Red Sox (Sept. 20, 2005 vs. Tampa Bay) |
Anibal Sanchez | 2004 | RHP | Florida Marlins (June 25, 2006 at New York Yankees) |
John Hattig | 2000, 2001 | 3B | Toronto Blue Jays (Aug. 19, 2006 at Baltimore) |
David Murphy | 2003 | OF | Boston Red Sox (Sept. 2, 2006 vs. Toronto) |
Brian Esposito | 2000 | C | St. Louis Cardinals (June 2, 2007 at Houston) |
Jacoby Ellsbury | 2005 | OF | Boston Red Sox (June 30, 2007 vs. Texas) |
Phil Dumatrait | 2001 | LHP | Cincinnati Reds (Aug. 2, 2007 at Washington) |
Brandon Moss | 2003 | OF | Boston Red Sox (Aug. 6, 2007 at Los Angeles) |
Clay Buchholz | 2005 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (Aug. 17, 2007 vs. Los Angeles) |
Harvey Garcia | 2004 | RHP | Florida Marlins (Sept. 3, 2007 at Washington) |
Dan Giese | 1999, 2000 | RHP | San Francisco Giants (Sept. 8, 2007 vs. Los Angeles) |
Jed Lowrie | 2005 | 3B | Boston Red Sox (April 15, 2008 at Cleveland) |
Justin Masterson | 2006 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (Apr. 24, 2008 vs. Los Angeles) |
Chris Smith | 2002 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (June 21, 2008 vs. St. Louis) |
R.J. Swindle | 2004 | LHP | Philadelphia Phillies (July 7, 2008 vs. New York) |
Hunter Jones | 2005 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (Apr. 20, 2009 vs. Baltimore) |
Dusty Brown | 2002 | C | Boston Red Sox (June 23, 2009 at Washington) |
Aaron Bates | 2006 | 1B | Boston Red Sox (July 6, 2009 vs. Oakland) |
Dustin Richardson | 2006, 2008 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (Sept. 28, 2009 vs. Toronto) |
Felix Doubront | 2006, 2007 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (June 18, 2010 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers) |
Ryan Kalish | 2006, 2007 | OF | Boston Red Sox (July 31, 2010 vs. Detroit) |
Yamaico Navarro | 2007, 2009 | SS | Boston Red Sox (Aug. 20, 2010 vs. Toronto) |
Jose Iglesias | 2010 | SS | Boston Red Sox (May 8, 2011 vs. Minnesota) |
Tommy Hottovy | 2004, 2009 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (June 3, 2011 vs. Oakland) |
Kyle Weiland | 2008 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (July 10, 2011 vs. Baltimore) |
Ryan Lavarnway | 2008 | C | Boston Red Sox (August 18, 2011 at Kansas City) |
Nick Hagadone | 2007 | LHP | Cleveland Indians (Sept. 1, 2011 vs. Oakland) |
Tim Federowicz | 2008 | C | Los Angeles Dodgers (Sept. 11, 2011 vs. San Francisco) |
Che-Hsuan Lin | 2007 | OF | Boston Red Sox (April 14, 2012 vs. New York) |
Will Middlebrooks | 2008, 2011 | 3B | Boston Red Sox (May 2, 2012 vs. Oakland) |
Luis Exposito | 2006 | C | Baltimore Orioles (May 4, 2012 vs. Boston) |
Kris Negron | 2006 | INF | Cincinnati Reds (June 7, 2012 vs. Pittsburgh) |
Miguel Socolovich | 2007 | RHP | Baltimore Orioles (July 14, 2012 vs. Detroit) |
Stephen Fife | 2008 | RHP | Los Angeles Dodgers (July 17, 2012 vs. Philadelphia) |
Casey Kelly | 2008 | RHP | San Diego Padres (August 27, 2012 vs. Atlanta) |
Jackie Bradley Jr. | 2011 | OF | Boston Red Sox (April 1, 2013 vs. New York Yankees) |
Ryan Pressly | 2009 | RHP | Minnesota Twins (April 4, 2013 vs. Detroit) |
Alex Wilson | 2009 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (April 11, 2013 vs. Baltimore) |
Chris McGuiness | 2009 | 1B | Texas Rangers (June 7, 2013 vs. Toronto) |
Jose Alvarez | 2009 | LHP | Detroit Tigers (June 9, 2013 vs. Cleveland) |
Brandon Workman | 2010 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (July 10, 2013 vs. Seattle) |
Drake Britton | 2008, 2009 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (July 20, 2013 vs. New York Yankees) |
Kris Johnson | 2006 | LHP | Pittsburgh Pirates (August 18, 2013 vs. Arizona) |
Cesar Cabral | 2009 | LHP | New York Yankees (September 2, 2013 vs. Chicago) |
Stolmy Pimentel | 2008 | RHP | Pittsburgh Pirates (September 4, 2013 vs. Milwaukee) |
Alex Hassan | 2009 | OF | Boston Red Sox (June 1, 2014 vs. Tampa Bay) |
Garin Cecchini | 2011 | 3B | Boston Red Sox (June 1, 2014 vs. Tampa Bay) |
Mookie Betts | 2012 | 2B | Boston Red Sox (June 29, 2014 vs. New York Yankees) |
Roman Mendez | 2010 | RHP | Texas Rangers (July 8, 2014 vs. Houston Astros) |
Christian Vazquez | 2009 | C | Boston Red Sox (July 9, 2014 vs. Chicago White Sox) |
Anthony Ranaudo | 2010 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (August 1, 2014 vs. New York Yankees) |
Dan Butler | 2009 | C | Boston Red Sox (August 10, 2014 vs. Los Angeles) |
Bryan Price | 2008 | RHP | Cleveland Indians (September 1, 2014 vs. Detroit) |
Hunter Strickland | 2008 | RHP | San Francisco Giants (September 1, 2014 vs. Colorado) |
Matt Barnes | 2011 | RHP |
Boston Red Sox (September 9, 2014 vs. Baltimore) |
Bryce Brentz | 2010 | OF | Boston Red Sox (September 17, 2014 vs. Pittsburgh) |
Jason Garcia | 2011/2014 | RHP | Baltimore Orioles (April 8, 2015 vs. Tampa Bay) |
Travis Shaw | 2011 | 1B | Boston Red Sox (May 8, 2015 vs. Toronto) |
Jonathan Aro | 2013 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (June 25, 2015 vs. Baltimore) |
Deven Marrero | 2012 | SS | Boston Red Sox (June 28, 2015 vs. Tampa Bay) |
Noe Ramirez | 2011 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (July 3, 2015 vs. Houston) |
Brian Johnson | 2012 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (July 21, 2015 vs. Houston) |
Frankie Montas | 2012 | RHP | Chicago White Sox (September 2, 2015 vs. Minnesota) |
Carson Blair | 2009-11 | C | Oakland Athletics (September 6, 2015 vs. Seattle) |
2011 | RHP | Philadelphia Phillies (September 9, 2015 vs. Atlanta) | |
2009 | OF | St. Louis Cardinals (April 3, 2016 at Pittsburgh) | |
2010-2011 | OF | Atlanta Braves (April 12, 2016 at Washington) | |
2012 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (April 21, 2016 vs. Tampa Bay) | |
2012 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (April 26, 2016 at Atlanta) | |
2012 | INF | Boston Red Sox (June 28, 2016 at Atlanta) | |
2015 | OF | Boston Red Sox (August 2, 2016 at Seattle) | |
2010-2012 | RHP | Atlanta Braves (August 7, 2016 at St. Louis) | |
2011 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (September 2, 2016 at Oakland) | |
2011 | RHP | Oakland Athletics (September 5, 2016 vs Los Angeles (AL)) | |
2012 | OF | San Diego Padres (September 21, 2016 vs Arizona) | |
2012 | INF | San Diego Padres (September 21, 2016 vs Arizona) | |
2012 | RHP | Minnesota Twins (April 5, 2017 vs Kansas City) | |
2015 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (April 7, 2017 at Detroit) | |
2014 | 1B | Boston Red Sox (May 24, 2017 vs Texas) | |
2012 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (June 18, 2017 at Houston) | |
2013 | INF | Boston Red Sox (June 24, 2017 vs Los Angeles (AL)) | |
2013 | RHP | Boston Red Sox (August 20, 2017 vs Toronto) | |
2013 | RHP | New York Mets (September 2, 2017 at Houston) | |
2014 | RHP | Milwaukee Brewers (September 15, 2017 vs Miami) | |
2015 | LHP | Boston Red Sox (March 31, 2018 at Tampa Bay) | |
2016 | RHP | New York Mets (April 17, 2018 vs Washington) | |
2011-2014 | OF/LHP | Los Angeles Angels (August 7, 2018 vs Detroit) | |
2013 | RHP | Los Angeles Angels (August 16, 2018 at Texas Rangers) | |
2016 | RHP | Chicago White Sox (August 22, 2018 vs Minnesota Twins) |
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring