The new FCBL franchise in Lowell has brought back the name Spinners, along with a new logo. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

LOWELL, Mass. – The Lowell Spinners are back, with a twist.

And a Nashua related twist at that.

The new Futures Collegiate League franchise for Lowell and LeLacheur Park , announced in late July, introduced on Tuesday its new owners, some staff, field manager, and also announced its nickname at a media gathering in the lobby of the Tsongas Center.

The franchise, in a rebrand, is bringing back the Spinners name as a tribute to the highly successful Red Sox Class A short-season affiliate that was caught up in Major League baseball’s minor league contraction of 2020.

One of the team’s two principal owners is former Nashua Pride pitcher Marc Deschenes, with retired Lowell businesman John Croteau the other. Meanwhile, limited partners include former Red Sox and Yankees star Johnny Damon former MLB outfielder Zach Sorenson and current Toronto Blue Jays first base caoch ark Budzinski.

Also, the franchise is bring back former Nashua Silver Knights president Tim Bawmann as its COO/team president. It was Bawmann and his fellow former Spinners vice president Jon Goode who convinced then Spinners owner Drew Weber back in 2010 to help put together the FCBL and own a team in Nashua at Holman Stadium.

And the rest, as they say is history, and now history has come full circle for many involved.

“It comes full circle, back to my playing career and becoming an owner of a baseball franchise,” said Deschenes, who had a 13-year pro career on the mound that included two stints with the Pride in 2002 and 2004 He was back in late June at Holman when the Pride were honored.

“It’s going to be fun,” Deschenes said of returning to Holman as the owner of a team facing the Silver Knights. “Kind of a home and away series with Holman and we’re already kind of working with (Silver Knights owner) John Creedon how we’re going to make those efforts happen and make it a rivalry from the start.”

As for Bawmann’s return, Deschenes said the group reached out to him just before it was awarded the franchise. Bawmann spent the better part of the last several years as the president of the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Mad Ants, the Indiana Pacers’ G League team. But the franchise underwent some changes, including a move to Noblesville, Ind.

“Tim was like, ‘You know what, I want to come back to my roots, Lowell’s near and dear to me and very special,'” Deschenes said. “He’s coming back to put the finishing touches on his career and put butts back in the seats at LeLacheur Park which made it so special back in the day with 10 consecutive years of sellouts.”

Deschenes said Bawmann, who lived in Nashua when he ran the Spinners and Silver Knights, is planning returning to the Nashua area. The franchise is hoping to bring back as much of the Spinners brand and fan appeal as possible.

The team also introduced its new field manager, Phillips Academy Andover baseball coach/assistant admissions director Kevin Graber. Graber has had a long career in baseball as a college coach, Yankees scout, Cubs coordinator and Double A manager.

Lowell’s addition to the league makes seven teams, as the circuit operated with just six teams last summer, its lowest number of teams since its first season of four teams in 2011. Nashua is the only remaining original franchise.

The league was in jeopardy of losing three-time defending champion Norwich (Conn.) as the city was seeking to sell the land that Dodd Stadium is on, but evidently that idea is on the back burner as it was announced last month the team signed a one-year lease renewal with an option for 2027.

What about an eight team? As the FCBL looks to finalize its schedule in the next month, it appears the options are either a travel “Road Warriors” team similar to what replaced Pittsfield on schedules two years ago, or placing a franchise in Rockland, Mass. The latter is something that FCBL Commissioner Joe Paolucci, who was not at Tuesday’s event – assistant commissioner Josh Kummins was – has been working on the last couple of years.

“They (FCBL owners) want eight teams to make the schedule more compatible,” said Deschenes. “Rockland is on the table, a road team is on the table as well.

“Just the revival of the Lowell Spinners, we’re happy to have that name back, and going to activate LeLacheur Park again.”

Former Nashua Pride pitcher Marc Deschenes is one of the new owners of the new FCBL franchise in Lowell, now named the Lowell Spinners. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

UMass president Marty Meehan put out a plea to businessmen in the community to help restore the ballpark, which is currently used by its owners, UMass Lowell.

“We need some money to put into this ballpark,” Meehan said. “The University can’t do it on it own, the new franchise can’t do it on its own.”

Also on hand was Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook, who knows with the ownership and staff assembled in Lowell, it brings new competition for business sponsors as well as players.

“There’s obviously pros and cons to a team coming 14-15 miles away from your stadium,” Cook said. “You look around you see sponsors you see from around this place, players who may be closer to Lowell, so there’s certainly going to be things we miss out on. … They’re going to be a great organization, they’re going to be really fun to work with. John helped get them up to speed in getting in the league, they’re going to be super collaborative. …

“I’m excited for them, I’m excited for us. If nothing else, you can get complacent after 16 years of existance so a kick in the butt to get things up to speed isn’t the worst thing in the world.”