Smith to return as Miracle’s skipper
Manager Jeff Smith will return to the Fort Myers Miracle dugout for the 2016 season, according to a joint announcement by the Miracle and Minnesota Twins organizations on Tuesday.
Smith, 41, enters his second consecutive season and fourth overall in Fort Myers. He guided the Miracle to the best record (76-63) in the Florida State League South Division last season.
“I am very excited to come back in 2016 and manage the Fort Myers Miracle,” said Smith. “After an exciting 2015 season on the field and in the community, it will be fun to keep building on that momentum. There is a lot of excitement in our organization going into the new year and being able to be a part of it is a huge honor.”
Next season marks Smith’s 11th as a manager in the Twins organization. The native of Southwest Florida previously managed the Miracle in 2008-09 for a combined record of 233-180 in 413 games in the Florida State League. In 10 seasons, Smith has amassed an overall mark of 716-682, including stops in Beloit (A) and New Britain (AA) as well as Fort Myers.
A graduate of Naples High School, Smith attended Stetson and was selected in the 20th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft in 1995 by the Twins. Primarily a catcher, Smith totaled nine years in the minor leagues as a player and appeared in 658 games, including 55 with the Miracle.
“I’m very lucky to wake up each morning and drive to the number one facility in all of baseball to put on the Twins and Miracle uniform every day,” said Smith. “Being able to help develop our young players and watch them grow into MLB players is something that drives me and it’s something our fans love to see.”
Miracle officials said Jim Dwyer will return for his 11th season as Miracle hitting coach. Dwyer, 64, served as the Twins’ minor league roving hitting coordinator from 1997 to 2005 and is a resident of Cape Coral. He spent 18 years in the Major Leagues and is 17th all-time in pinch hits with 103.
Also returning to the staff is Alan Rail, 36, his third season as the athletic trainer.
Newcomer Henry Bonilla joins the Miracle as pitching coach. Bonilla, 37, served as pitching coach for the Cedar Rapids Kernels (A) last season, at rookie-level Elizabethton in 2014 and in the Gulf Coast League in 2013. Bonilla spent 10 seasons in the minor leagues and posted a 61-71 career record with a 4.66 earned run average over 987.1 innings pitched. Bonilla played two seasons for the Miracle.
For more information on the Miracle or to purchase tickets call (239) 768-4210 or visit www.miraclebaseball.com.