Spinners Start Vote for Hammer Campaign for Seth Schwindenhammer in Minors Moniker Madness
July 20, 2010 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Lowell Spinners News Release
LOWELL, MASS. - The Lowell Spinners, Class-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, are throwing their weight behind a "Vote for Hammer" campaign for outfielder Seth Schwindenhammer to a win in MiLB.com's fourth annual "Minors Moniker Madness" to find the best name in Minor League Baseball.
Schwindenhammer, known as "Hammer" around the Spinners clubhouse, would have the longest last name (15 letters) in Major League history should he reach the big leagues, edging out Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
Ironically enough, Schwindenhammer and his 15 letter last name are seeded 15th in the "Natty Nattress" Bracket where he faces off against Skyler Stromsmoe of the Richmond Flying Squirrels in the field of 64.
"Isn't Skyler a girl's name," asked Spinners Media Relations Manager Jon Boswell. "Hammer or no Hammer I can't support voting for Stromsmoe when he shares a first name with one of the lead female characters of AMC's Breaking Bad. Besides, Schwindenhammer is meant to cause nightmares for clubhouse managers affixing letters to the back of jerseys for years to come. "
Schwindenhammer is looking for a victory for a Spinners squad that has seen wins go few and far between early in the 2010 season, as the squad is off to a franchise worst 7-24 start.
"Sometimes a team needs a little jump start," said Spinners Vice President and General Manager Tim Bawmann. "If we can "Hammer" home a win in the Moniker Madness contest, maybe the team will take that momentum onto the field."
The Hammer is not the only player with Spinners ties in the contest. Reliever T.J. Large, now with the Pawtucket Red Sox, is matched up against Jamestown Jammers outfielder Sequoyah Stonecipher 1-16 match-up.
2008 Spinners ace Stolmy Pimentel, now pitching for the Salem Red Sox, finds himself as a three seed in the same bracket as large, matched up against Alden Carrithers, while 2009 Spinners relief star Jordan Flasher, now with the Greenville Drive, is a 13 seed, matched against New Hampshire Fisher Cats infielder Callix Crabbe (no relation to Spinners manager, Bruce Crabbe).
Born in Peoria, Ill., Schwindenhammer was a fifth round pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. Through 14 games, the left-handed hitting Hammer is batting .220 as the team's fourth outfielder.
Voting for the first round of the contest is underway and runs through July 26. Fans can vote as often as they'd like by visiting www.minorleaguebaseball.com/madness and selecting the players they wish to advance. Spinners fans are asked to vote for the "Spinners Ticket," voting for Hammer, Pimentel, Flasher and Large to advance.
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