Lowell Spinners Introduced as Newest Futures League Franchise

LOWELL, Mass. – The Lowell Spinners will return summertime baseball to LeLacheur Park's diamond as the newest franchise in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

The new team's general partners, retired MACOM and Pison CEO John Croteau and former professional baseball player Marc Deschenes, on Tuesday introduced themselves as well as the name and look of the new franchise alongside university, state and local leaders at an event held at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.

"To the fans, I want to say how proud we are to bring summer baseball back to Lowell and LeLacheur Park," said Croteau, the team's chairman and CEO. "Restoring the Spinners name was the clear and natural choice — it connects us to something far bigger than the game itself. It pays tribute to Lowell's textile mills that helped ignite the American Industrial Revolution, and it reflects the grit, hard work, and community spirit that built this city and continue to inspire our players, partners, and fans alike.

Branded in red, white and blue logos featuring familiar images of spools and thread, the Spinners will spark a new era of growth and opportunity for the next generation of fans, athletes, entrepreneurs and leaders, according to Deschenes, the team's principal owner and chief baseball officer.

"We're building a franchise that will match the former Spinners' success in the New York–Penn League. Our roster will showcase national-caliber MLB prospects while prioritizing the region's top local talent," he said. "LeLacheur Park will once again serve as the heart of the city's summer – a place where families, fans and generations unite. Through partnerships with local schools, charities and small businesses, the Spinners are committed to ensuring that success on the field fuels progress across the Merrimack Valley."

The Spinners will be the seventh franchise of the New England-based FCBL, a proving ground for collegiate players looking to draw the attention of professional scouts while maintaining their NCAA/NAIA eligibility. Competing from late May through early August, the team will bring thousands of fans to the 4,700-seat LeLacheur Park, which is owned by UMass Lowell and continues to be home to the university's River Hawks baseball team. Players from that program have gone on to play in the Futures League.

"The Futures League and the Spinners' ownership group have been tremendous partners as we've worked to bring this new team to Lowell. We thank them for their commitment to the city and look forward to growing our relationship as we all enjoy many summer nights watching baseball under the stars," said UMass President Marty Meehan.

Opened by the city in 1998, LeLacheur Park was built for the original Lowell Spinners, a former New York-Penn League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox that halted play in 2020. Just two years later, UMass Lowell purchased the park for its River Hawks team and with the goal of providing a home to a second team at the stadium.

"We welcome the Spinners home to LeLacheur Park and we are grateful for the support of our partners in making this day possible," said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen. "The franchise will continue to enrich our community as part of the growing Lowell Innovation Network Corridor (LINC), a transformative, public-private economic development partnership driven by UMass Lowell and city leaders. The Spinners enhance a line-up of entertainment choices that are part of LINC and already include the Boston Fleet at the Tsongas Center, as well as our River Hawk teams. We look forward to cheering them on."

About the team owners

A standout shortstop at UMass Lowell, Marc Deschenes was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 1995 MLB Draft and by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 1999 MLB Rule V Draft. He went on to enjoy a 13-year professional baseball career, concluding with the Pawtucket Red Sox. Following his playing career, he founded and operated several youth baseball and softball organizations, including the Junior Spinners, now known as USA Prime.

John Croteau recently concluded a distinguished 42-year career in the technology industry, most recently as CEO of Pison Technology, a neurotech startup based in Boston. Earlier in his career, he served as President and CEO of MACOM, a public company that reached $4.5 billion enterprise value and became Lowell's largest private employer under his leadership.

The new Lowell Spinners is a summer baseball franchise competing in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) that proudly calls LeLacheur Park at UMass Lowell its home. The franchise is led by general partners Marc Deschenes, principal owner and chief baseball officer, and John Croteau, chairman and CEO. Limited partners include Red Sox legend Johnny Damon, active MLB coaches Mark Budzinski (Toronto Blue Jays) and Zach Sorensen, along with a dedicated group of friends and family investors. The team's operations are overseen by Chief Operating Officer Tim Bawmann, former president and general manager of the original Lowell Spinners and a founding architect of the Futures League. For more information, visit www.lowellspinners.com or follow @LowellSpinners on social media.