North Shore Navigators Add Future UMass Lowell Pitchers

The North Shore Navigators will welcome multiple UMass Lowell prospects to their Futures Collegiate Baseball League roster for the second consecutive summer.

Both future River Hawks slated to join the Navs in 2020 will reside on the mound in Massachusetts natives Zach Fortuna and Michael Quigley. President and General Manager Derek January announced the signings on Tuesday.

Newburyport’s Fortuna continues a long line of St. John’s Prep products to play for the local club. He made 10 appearances for the Eagles last spring as they advanced to the Super 8 championship round, compiling a 1.19 ERA and 43 strikeouts on the season. The 6-foot, 200-pound left-hander held opponents to a .196 batting average during his 3-0 junior year, allowing just one earned run over 11.1 innings of tournament action. He earned Honorable Mention All-Star status from The Salem News.

Scouting Report: Lefty with three pitches … big curveball … gets better with every outing … MLB comp: Ted Lilly.

A 5-foot-11, 180-pound righty from Halifax, Mass., Quigley finished his junior year at Silver Lake Regional High School as the Most Valuable Player in the Patriot League’s Keenan Division. He compiled a 7-3 record with three saves, 1.94 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 54 innings on the way to earning Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic honors as well as becoming the Patriot Ledger Player of the Year. Quigley, who also plays shortstop, has tossed two no-hitters at Silver Lake and spent previous summers with the Bourne Mariners of the Cranberry League.

Scouting Report: Throws 86-89 with an above-average slider … very good athlete … plenty of poise on the mound … MLB comp: Austin Brice.

Fortuna and Quigley will join two of their future college teammates on the Navs this summer. UMass Lowell freshman infielder Jon Gibride (Beverly) and pitcher Harry Painter (Essex) will appear at Fraser Field again in 2020.

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.

The health and safety of our players, staff and fans is of the utmost importance to the North Shore Navigators.

We will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and are in constant communication with our local authorities as well as the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

In the meantime, we are working hard to prepare for the upcoming season, which is still scheduled to begin on Wednesday, May 27. Our main goal is to offer a fun, safe environment for everyone who walks into Fraser Field, and we look forward to coming back together at the park this summer.

We will be sure to share any additional information as it becomes available.

We hope that you and your loved ones are in good health and remain safe.

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