Opening Day roster announced
The Minnesota Twins first round pick in the 2011 Major League First-Year Player Draft, Levi Michael, will start at shortstop. The University of North Carolina product was the 30th overall pick and didn't play after signing with the Twins last summer, due to injury. He enters the season ranked as the Twins sixth-best prospect by Baseball America.
This will mark the third straight year that the Twins first-round pick the previous year starts in Fort Myers (Kyle Gibson 2010, Alex Wimmers 2011).
The Miracle will have plenty of power at the plate. Outfielder Oswaldo Arcia has belted 27 home runs in the last two seasons, including eight in 59 games with Fort Myers last year. Baseball America tabs him as the fifth-ranked prospect in the Twins organization.
First baseman Michael Gonzalez comes off a season in which he led Beloit with 15 home runs and 76 RBI. Third baseman Jairo Perez will provide pop from the hot corner after his 15 home run, 60 RBI, .337 AVG performance last year in Beloit.
University of Kentucky standout Lance Ray will provide offense from the outfield after drilling 16 homers and driving in 74 runs for the Snappers last year. Back for his third year in a Miracle uniform, outfielder Angel Morales looks for an injury free campaign.
The Miracle hit a Florida State League low 56 home runs last season.
Power in the middle and speed on the top should make third-year manager Jake Mauer pleased.
Newcomer Daniel Santana swiped 24 bases with Beloit and will split infield duties with utility man Reggie Williams (Harmon Killebrew Community Relations Award Winner for Fort Myers in 2011) and third baseman Anderson Hidalgo (.274 AVG with Fort Myers).
The two most versatile members of the 2012 Miracle will be Andy Leer and Danny Rams.
Leer, who can play all four infield positions and catcher, is a native of Williston, North Dakota, while Rams will see time behind the plate, at first base and in the outfield. Rams battled injuries all season long in Fort Myers; hitting .239 in 87 games and still making the mid-season Florida State League All-Star team.
Dan Rohlfing is back for his third year in Fort Myers and will be the starting catcher. Backup Josmil Pinto hit .262 in 64 games for the Miracle last year.
The starting rotation will have an intimidating look with three starters 6-foot-4 or taller.
Pat Dean, a third-round pick in 2010 from Boston College, will start the home opener on Friday against Charlotte. Dean went 3-6 with a 6.67 ERA after being called up from Beloit midway thru the 2011 season. B.J. Hermsen, who toes the rubber at 6-foot-5, will look to continue his success from his brief appearance in Fort Myers. The Manchester, Iowa native went 2-1 with a 4.39 ERA in five starts in 2011.
Adrian Salcedo, who won't turn 21 till April 24 and is considered a top prospect, is back in Fort Myers after pitching for the Miracle in 2010. The right-hander spent all of 2011 in Beloit (6-6, 2.93 ERA). Marty Popham joins the Twins organization after being selected in the Minor League Rule 5 draft from Cleveland. He struck out 95 batters in 96 2/3 innings for Kinston.
Converted third baseman Manuel Soliman rounds out the rotation. He went 7-11 with a 3.97 ERA in Beloit in 2011.
The bullpen is loaded with experience and an array of hard throwers.
Matt Hauser headlines the late-inning arms. The right-hander struck out 75 batters in 63 innings between Beloit, Fort Myers and New Britain. Bruce Pugh is back for his third stint in Miracle colors after leading the club with 13 saves in 2011.
Former St. Paul Saint Caleb Thielbar could be the wildcard out of the bullpen. After signing with the Twins in August, he pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings for the Miracle.
Ricky Bowen pitched in 20 games for the Miracle last year and struck out 48 batters in 40 innings. Former University of Florida draft pick Tony Davis looks to continue his comeback from injury. The lefty has a career 3.34 ERA in 82 minor league games.
Jhon Garcia has appeared in 44 games for the Miracle the last two seasons. The reliable right-hander went 3-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 2011. Left-hander Jose Gonzalez returns after pitching in eight games for the Miracle in 2010. He compiled a 1.17 ERA, allowing only two runs in 15 1/3 innings and last year saved 13 games for Beloit. Edgar Ibarra rounds out the bullpen and could either be a set-up man or occasional starter. He appeared in 16 games as a starter and 16 games as a reliever for the 2011 Miracle.
Pitchers Paul Bargas, Miguel Munoz, Tom Stuifbergen and Dakota Watts are joined on the disabled list by outfielder Steve Liddle.
To see the complete roster, log on to www.miraclebaseball.com.
The 2012 home opener is Friday April 6 when the Miracle hosts the Charlotte Stone Crabs at 7:05 p.m. with a fireworks show to follow. Local Wendy's restaurants have acquired tickets and are distributing them at no cost to customers. Tickets can be upgraded to a box seat for only $2.00 at the main Hammond Stadium ticket office.
For further information, call the Miracle at (239) 768-4210 or online at www.miraclebaseball.com