FCBL Futures Collegiate Baseball League

Futures League Announces Carminucci, Hebner and Keefe to Pro Ball

Published on January 2, 2013 under Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL)
Old Orchard Beach News Release


Chelmsford, MA- The Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England is excited to announce that three staff members, Chris Carminucci, Richie Hebner, and Jamie Keefe have accepted positions to return to the professional baseball ranks for the 2013 season. Each individual has made significant contributions to the Futures League, and their past efforts will without a doubt help to promote the future success of the league.

Chris Carminucci, described by FCBL commissioner Chris Hall as one of the founding fathers of the league, will be focusing more of his efforts during the 2013 season on a scouting position with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Carminucci Sports Group has been extremely influential throughout the first two years of the FCBL's existence, possessing operating and ownership stakes in the Brockton, Torrington, and Martha's Vineyard franchises. A native of Westchester County, NY, Carminucci's vast baseball resume includes scouting positions with the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals, over 250 wins as a professional baseball manager, and top-level front office experience within the Can-Am professional baseball league. Carminucci's past efforts are irreplaceable and he will continue to be a source of knowledge and guidance as the FCBL looks toward future expansion and operational success.

Richie Hebner spent the 2012 baseball season as the manager for the North Shore Navigators. The Navigators completed their 2012 campaign with a second place finish, compiling a 32-20 record. Under Hebner's tutelage the North Shore lineup led the FCBL with a .279 average; twelve points higher than the next closest team. Hebner has accepted a position to serve as the hitting coach for the Eastern League's New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2013 the AA-affiliate for the Toronto Blue Jays. Between 1968 and 1985, Hebner played 18 major league seasons with five different teams, winning a World Series in 1971 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since 1989, Hebner has also held a variety of coaching positions at the minor and major league levels, including a stint between 1989-1991 as major league hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox. The depth of knowledge and experience provided by Hebner will be difficult to replace as North Shore looks toward 2013.

Jamie Keefe spent the summer of 2012 managing the Pittsfield Suns to a respectable 27-25 FCBL record. He will return to professional baseball in 2013, having accepted a position as the field manager for the Rockland Boulders of the Can-Am professional baseball league. Keefe's professional managerial career includes 450 wins compiled between several independent league franchises, and being named the 2011 Can-Am league manager of the year. That season Keefe led the league's Pittsfield franchise to a 52-39 record and a post-season playoff berth. Keefe also serves as an assistant coach at the college level for UMass-Lowell. Keefe, who was a 3rd round pick for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992, played a career that spanned over nine minor league seasons. His career included playing time within the Pittsburgh and San Diego organizations, reaching the AAA level for San Diego in 1997. Jamie Keefe is a strong example of the type of individuals that are responsible for the success and growth of the FCBL.

It is clear that the FCBL will find it difficult to replace these three individuals. With that said, the opportunities presented by professional baseball organizations to Carminucci, Hebner, and Keefe is a testament to the quality that exists within the leadership of this league and the commitment to excellence that the FCBL stands for.

The FCBL provides student-athletes from New England and New England Colleges the opportunity to compete and play with the elite players from across the country and to promote them to MLB organizations. Each roster must contain at least 15 players from New England or from a New England University/College. In addition, the Futures Collegiate Baseball League will provide a family friendly, affordable, and fun experience for the communities that we play in, in a minor league style setting.

The FCBL is currently playing in four New England states. The Torrington Titans play in Connecticut, the Martha's Vineyard Sharks, Brockton Rox, Pittsfield Suns, North Shore Navigators and Wachusett Dirt Dawgs play in Massachusetts, the Seacoast Mavericks and Nashua Silver Knights play in New Hampshire and the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide play in Maine.

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