Mighty Mussels ready for 2026 season

Apr 3, 2026 By CJ HADDAD 8 min read

Yet another season for the boys of summer in Fort Myers started Thursday night, as the 2026 slate commenced for the Mighty Mussels. 

The Single-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins have a new look this year when it comes to the managerial decisions, as new skipper Jordan Smith is now overseeing the club. 

Smith spent the last 14 seasons in the Cleveland Guardians organization, and was the manager of Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats the last three years. 

Smith found success in his tenure, as the Hillcats were the Carolina League champions last year. To top it off, Smith was named the league’s Manager of the Year after guiding Lynchburg to a 70-59 record. 

Of the new chapter in his coaching career, Smith said, “I love the area. I love the Twins organization. (It’s) a great group of guys, so, I’m really looking forward to it.”

While Smith is still getting acclimated to his new surroundings and players, he described the team as having “grit.”

“These guys have something to prove, and they’re going to go out there every day and give it their all, and we’re going to compete every night,” he said. “I’m looking forward to the lights being on and playing some real baseball.”

Top returners this upcoming season for the Mussels include infielders Damuery Pena and Quentin Young, first baseman JP Smith II, outfielder Yasser Mercedes, and right-hander Dylan Questad. 

Pena led the team with 96 games played and hit .240 with 28 stolen bases. Young, the Twins second round pick in the 2025 amateur draft, is the nephew of Major Leaguers Delmon and Dmitri Young. He appeared in five games at the end of the season. 

Smith II won a Florida State League Player of the Week honor in August and hit .237 across 24 games after being taken in the 17th round. 

The 2025 team stole a franchise record 236 bases, led by Mercedes, who went 34-for-35. Mercedes also led the team in home runs with 10. 

The top newcomer is right-handed pitcher Riley Quick, who the Twins selected with the 36th overall pick in the 2025 draft. Quick had a 3.72 ERA in 31 career games (15 starts) across three seasons for the University of Alabama. In 2025 he had 70 strikeouts in 62 innings. 

The roster is highlighted by six members of the Twins Top 30 Prospects, according to MLB.com: Quick (11), Young (14), James Ellwanger (16), Enrique Jimenez (27), Matt Barr (28), and Bruin Agbayani (30). 

“It’s always fun having prospects, but at the end of the day they’re all on an equal playing field and it’s an opportunity for them to get the most out of their career,” Smith said. “As a manager and a coaching staff, that’s our job to treat them all equally and raise their floor and see how high their ceiling can get.”

Smith is a Willmar, Minnesota native, and said being a Twins fan was part of the culture in his town. The 35-year-old was an All-American at St. Cloud State University in 2010 and 2011 and was inducted into the university’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023. He was the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Freshman of the Year in 2010 and the Player of the Year in 2011.

Smith reached the Triple-A ranks in his eight-year professional career, spending his last season as a pro in 2018. 

A conversation with a coach when he was with the Columbus Clippers led him down the coaching path. 

He said his coaching style is centered around caring about his players and people in the organization. 

“I like to connect with the players,” he said. “I care about them as a person first, and then as a player. I’m an organized coach that likes to show up every day with some passion and get after it. I’ve been in their shoes and know what it’s like to have a manager in your corner and fighting for you and pushing you every day, that’s the guy I’m trying to be.”

Smith said it’s also about reminding players that they’ve already come so far. As a father of two, he points to his 8-year-old son and asks players to look back at their youthful self, and that the 8-year-old version of you would be proud and thrilled to be playing professional baseball. 

“But the jobs not done,” Smith said. “You have an opportunity in pro ball, and an opportunity to become a big leaguer, and it’s really hard to get there. I know the grind and the feeling of missing home and being away, but they all have that dream deep down inside.”

Quick, who will make his pro debut over the next few games, said he can’t wait to get on the mound in a competitive setting again. 

The 6-foot-5 Crimson Tide alum boasts a fastball that sits in the 96-97 mph range, with a sweeping slider and cutter to boot. He said he’s also been working on a kick change up to add to the arsenal. 

Quick did have Tommy John surgery in 2024, but returned for the 2025 season. 

“I feel great,” Quick said of his arm. “This is probably the best I’ve felt in my career building up. These guys have put me in a really good spot and they’re really good at what they do.”

As a top prospect, Quick said he’s not putting any pressure on himself, and just treats every game the same. 

“It’s a thing that I kind of had when I was coming back from surgery — try not to make any moment too big because you never know what can happen,” he said. “Not really any added pressure, just going out there and doing my thing.”

Smith II will be undergoing his first full pro season, and is looking to show off the power he possesses. Smith II is the Sacramento State baseball all-time career home run leader, setting the new record with 36 home runs in 2024 during the WAC Tournament.

“I’m just looking to mature as a hitter and a defender,” Smith II said. “Becoming a better teammate and stacking days and keeping it consistent throughout the year.”

Smith II said he’s been working on using the whole field, taking more walks and letting the game come to him. Defensively at first base, he wants to be reliable for his infield.

“This game is hard, and I feel I can help them, whether they have a bad at-bat or defensive play, I pick them up and helps the team come closer together and pick each other up,” he said.

As for what’s special about this group, Smith II said, “We’re all boys. It doesn’t matter the color, the ethnicity, I feel like we all talk to each other on and off the field, whether it’s about baseball, life, and I feel we all trust each other to go win a game.”

Smith II said the fan support and Fort Myers community has been a big part of the pro experience. 

“This is somewhat new to me — meeting the fans, seeing the same faces on a Friday as you do on a Tuesday,” he said. “Building bonds, seeing kids, giving them baseballs is always something that we dreamed of. It’s something that means a lot to us. Being on the other side of it hasn’t set in yet. I’m blessed having such a great opportunity to go chase my dreams and just help the youth and help give back like people gave to me.”

While Young is part of a famous baseball family, the 19-year-old is looking to carve his own path. 

The best advice he’s received from Delmon and Demitri? To be calm. 

“Just be ready to go out there and play,” he said. “You get so many games every year, so just be ready to go play, have fun, and don’t take it for granted.”

Young said his 6-foot-5 frame is feeling great heading into the season. Possessing superior athleticism as an infielder with raw power, his approach at the plate is something he’s been focusing on getting ready for the year.

“For me, it’s just putting a good swing on,” he said. “I know I can hit the ball hard if I get a good swing off.”

The Mussels have a three-game homestead to start the season against Clearwater that ends Saturday. They are on the road until April 14, when they play 12-straight at Lee Health Sports Complex. 

For tickets, full schedule and promotional information, visit milb.com/fort-myers.

Lee Health Sports Complex is at 14100 Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers.

To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com