LYNN — After welcoming two UMass Lowell players back to the team earlier this week, the North Shore Navigators have added more local talent to their 2020 roster in the form of another duo from a familiar New England program.
Outfielder/catcher Thomas Crowley and right-handed pitcher Cedric Gillette will both join Lynn’s own Futures Collegiate Baseball League club from Merrimack College, it was announced by President and General Manager Derek January. The Warriors have elevated to the Division I level and will compete in the Northeast Conference for the first time this spring.
Crowley hails from Dracut and will make his way to the Navs after completing his junior season. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder played the outfield and also served as Merrimack’s backup catcher last year, hitting .275 with five doubles, a home run, 20 RBI, 18 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. He started in 30 of his 33 games as a second-year collegiate, recording three hits in a handful of them. In high school, Crowley was a two-time captain and two-time Merrimack Valley Conference All-Star.
Scouting Report: Athletic player who can play all over the diamond … outstanding runner … shows gap-to-gap power … MLB comp: Brock Holt.
Gillette is slated to return to North Shore for a second straight season after appearing in 13 games during the team’s 30-win campaign in 2019. The Andover native struck out 24 batters over 33.1 innings of work last summer and, on July 30, pitched six innings of two-run ball at Westfield to earn the victory in the last of his four starts.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound righty posted a 2.09 ERA over his last 17.2 frames as a Merrimack freshman, lifting the Warriors to wins over their former Northeast-10 Conference rivals from American International and Saint Anselm. Prior to his collegiate debut, Gillette starred in three sports at Andover High School as he also captained the Golden Warrior football and basketball teams.
Scouting Report: Seasoned, veteran presence on the mound … strike thrower … will get both righties and lefties out … MLB comp: Mike Timlin.
The Navs are now preparing for the 13th season of collegiate ball at Fraser Field and their ninth in the Futures League. The 2020 opener is scheduled for Wednesday, May 27. Until then, stay up to date on the latest Navs news by visiting nsnavs.com and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
