Doug Mientkiewicz to manage Miracle in 2013

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 10, 2012) - The Fort Myers Miracle, in conjunction with the Minnesota Twins, are pleased to announce that 12-year Major League veteran Doug Mientkiewicz will be the manager for the 2013 season.

"I'm excited to join the Minnesota organization and Fort Myers Miracle coaching staff," said Mientkiewicz, "I've always considered myself a Twin."

Mientkiewicz, 38, comes to Fort Myers from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization where he was the hitting coach for the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League in 2012. Mientkiewicz played in 1,087 games in the Major Leagues from 1998-2009 with the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers.

"We are looking forward to having Doug's leadership, hustle and passion with the Miracle for 2013," said Miracle General Manager Andrew Seymour, "He brought so much energy to Hammond Stadium when he played here."

Mientkiewicz was drafted by Minnesota in the fifth round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft and debuted with the Fort Myers Miracle in 1995. Mientkiewicz played two seasons with the Miracle appearing in 171 games in 1995 and 1996.

"I began my professional baseball career in Fort Myers," said Mientiewicz, "Now, I'm excited to start my managing career with the Miracle. We are going to hustle on and off the field and bring an exciting brand of baseball to the fans."

A .271 career hitter at the Major League level, Mientkiewicz appeared in 643 games with Minnesota from 1998-2004. As a Twin, Mientkiewicz hit .275 with 43 home runs and 266 runs batted in. Mientkiewicz won a Gold Glove Award in 2001 with Minnesota.

In 2000, Mientkiewicz helped the United States Olympic baseball team to a gold medal in Sydney, Australia. As a member of the Boston Red Sox in 2004, Mientkiewicz won a World Series championship becoming one of only five American players to win Olympic gold and a World Series ring.

After playing high school baseball at Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay, Florida, Mientkiewicz played three seasons of collegiate baseball with the Florida State Seminoles before being drafted by the Twins.

Jim Dwyer returns for his eighth season as hitting coach with the Miracle and 17th year in the Minnesota organization. Dwyer, 62, served as the Twins' minor league roving hitting coordinator from 1997-2005 and is a resident of Cape Coral. Spending 18 years in the Major Leagues, Dwyer is 17th all-time in pinch hits with 103.

Ivan Arteaga joins the Miracle staff as the pitching coach. Arteaga, 40, comes to Fort Myers after serving as pitching coach for Minnesota's Appalachian League (R) affiliate Elizabethton Twins. A native of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, Arteaga pitched in 121 games over six years in the minor leagues with the Montreal, Colorado and New York Mets organizations. Arteaga also pitched in 28 games of independent league baseball.

Alan Rail, 34, joins the Miracle staff as the athletic trainer after spending the past eight seasons with the Beloit Snappers. Rail started his athletic training career in 2004 with Elizabethton.

The Miracle host the Bradenton Marauders to begin the 2013 season on April 4 and season ticket packages are currently available. For more information, visit www.miraclebaseball.com or call (239) 768-4210.