Miracle opening day roster set
The Fort Myers Miracle’s opening day roster is set and will take the field for the first game on Thursday in Bradenton. The 25-man squad features 11 players returning from last year’s team that captured first place in both halves of the Florida State League’s South Division standings.
Among the returnees is popular infielder Chris Cates. The shortest player in professional baseball at 5-foot-3, he was named to the Florida State League All-Star team last season. Outfielder Evan Bigley drove in 46 runs in 95 games in 2009 and is slated to start again this season. Pitcher Matt Williams returns after spending parts of the last two years in Southwest Florida.
Other returning pitchers are Michael Allen, Henry Arias, Bobby Lanigan and Michael Tarsi. Rounding out the pitching staff are newcomers Billy Bullock, Tony Davis, Kyle Gibson, Shooter Hunt, Blake Martin, Bruce Pugh and Brad Tippett.
Gibson, the Minnesota Twins’ first-round pick in the ’09 Major League Baseball Draft, makes his professional debut in Thursday’s opener against the Marauders. The 6-foot-6 right-hander didn’t pitch last year after being drafted out of the University of Missouri, but has fully recovered from a stress fracture in his right forearm.
Handling the catching duties is returnee Jair Fernandez. Chris Herrmann and Daniel Rohlfing will see time behind the plate and in the field.
The infield includes Nate Hanson, Yangervis Solarte, Drew Thompson, Paul Kelly, Deibinson Romero, Nick Romero and Cates.
Manager Jake Mauer enters his first season as the Miracle skipper. Hitting coach Jim Dwyer returns for his fourth season and Steve Mintz begins his second season as pitching coach. Trainer Larry Bennese begins his 12th season in Fort Myers.
The Miracle play their home opener at 7:05 p.m. Friday against Bradenton.