Miracle making sure All-Stars rock
The Fort Myers Miracle have spent a lot of time and effort to get ready to host the Florida State League All-Star Game and activities this weekend at Hammond Stadium, making sure everyone has fun and a memorable experience.
“A lot of energy from all of our staff, from the clubhouse guys to the groundscrew, announcers and our interns, all of us want this place to shine,” said Miracle General Manager Andrew Seymour. “There will be a lot of people here from out of town and the All-Stars’ families. The event itself is great. There will be a lot of city and county officials and employees involved.”
This is the fifth time since the Miracle moved to Fort Myers before the 1992 season that they have hosted the All-Star Game. Saturday’s game starts at 7:05 p.m. pitting the North Division stars against the South Division stars, following a Home Run Derby, which is set to start about 5:15 p.m. Selected sluggers from both squads will go through three rounds of competition to determine the winner. The Miracle’s Adam Brett Walker won the home run title in 2014 at Bradenton.
While in Bradenton for the 2014 game, the Miracle put in a bid to host it in 2016 and later were selected by the league. The Miracle last hosted the All-Star Game in 2009.
“The game usually rotates, but in 2014 we knew we would be one year into our new facility,” said Seymour. “We would have our feet wet and know the place in and out and would be ready to entertain everyone.”
Entertainment is what fans and visitors will get. Gates open at 4:30 on Saturday. Several All-Stars will be in the stands and concourse signing autographs before the Home Run Derby. After the game comes the spectacular fireworks.
“The fireworks display will be bigger and better than ever before,” said Seymour. “We will have several different in-game entertainment bits as well as performances by an extreme pogo team. We want to keep everyone entertained.”
“We are thrilled to show off this state-of-the art facility after the renovations and upgrades that have improved the fan experience the last two seasons,” Miracle Chief Operating Officer Steve Gliner said previously.
The Miracle will be represented by eight players – pitchers Stephen Gonsalves, Tyler Jay, Felix Jorge, Raul Fernandez and Todd Van Steensel along with first baseman Trey Vavra, shortstop Nick Gordon and outfielder Edgar Corcino. Pitcher Kohl Stewart also was selected, but will not play after being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga.
The Miracle also are hosting an All-Star Game dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday at Harborside Event Center for the players, league executives and Lee County VIPs.
All-Star players representing both divisions will be introduced and the dinner. The South Division consists of the Miracle, the Bradenton Marauders, Charlotte Stone Crabs, Jupiter Hammerheads, Palm Beach Cardinals and St. Lucie Mets. The North Division consists of the Brevard County Manatees, Clearwater Threshers, Daytona Tortugas, Dunedin Blue Jays, Lakeland Tiger and Tampa Yankees.
Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame inductee John Gorden, the team’s former broadcaster, is the keynote speaker.
“Putting on a good show and showcasing our facility is why we decided to host the game,” said Seymour. “We want to be a leader in the industry and in our league. The players have earned their way here, so we have to take care of them and bear the cost of the dinner. When that’s over, they spill out into the downtown entertainment district.”
Seymour said he is expecting a big crowd, a loud crowd.
“Several teams are sending their booster clubs,” he said. “There’s a Perfect Game tournament in town and some of those kids will come over, too. We like to connect locally, so we’ve invited a number of high school varsity players to shag fly balls during the Home Run Derby.”
The Miracle this season were at the top of the South Division standings during the month of May, but have since slipped to the bottom of the division and out of contention for the first-half division championships and a berth in the postseason playoffs that comes with it.
With three games left in the first-half after the All-Star Break the Miracle are obviously eager for a fresh start to the second half.
Tickets to the All-Star Game are available by calling the Miracle offices 239-768-4210 or ordering online at www.miraclebaseball.com.