Fort Myers Miracle Projections

The Fort Myers Miracle had a rough season in 2011, posting a disappointing 63-76 record under manager Jake Mauer. Some of the frustration was due to injuries and more was due to just plain lack of production. The Miracle will be back in 2012 with some familiar faces as they try to get back in the playoff hunt. They also will infuse some new talent that should make the summer very exciting for fans as the Miracle try to return to the playoffs in 2012 for the third time in the last five years. Here is my roster projection for the Ft. Myers Miracle. This is just a guess so let the discussion begin.

C- Danny Rams- Bam Bam Rams comes back for a second season trying to build off of a decent rookie year with the Miracle where he had 27 extra base hits.

1b- Michael Gonzalez- Gonzalez moves up to Fort Myers after belting 15 home runs and driving in 76 runs in Beloit in 2011.

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2b- Daniel Santana- The speedster moves up to Fort Myers after swiping 24 bases last year in Beloit.

SS- Levi Michael- The Twins 2011 first round pick out of North Carolina makes his debut in the Twins organization with the Miracle.

3b- Jairo Perez- The power-hitting 3rd baseman moves up from Beloit where he had 36 extra base hits including 15 home runs for the Snappers in 2011.

LF- Oswaldo Arcia- The phenom returns to the Miracle after combining for 40 extra base hits in three different levels in 2011.

CF- Angel Morales- Morales returns to Fort Myers after a injury-plagued 2011 season that only allowed him to appear in 37 games.

RF- Lance Ray- Ray moves up to Fort Myers where he tries to build on a 2011 season in which he hit 51 extra base hits including 16 home runs.

DH - Nate Roberts- Roberts moves up to Fort Myers and tries to continue getting on base as he did in 2011 where he had a .443 OBP in 68 games

Bench

Anderson Hidalgo- Hidalgo returns to the Miracle coming off a season, in which he hit 29 extra base hits for the Miracle.

Steve Liddle- Liddle returns for another year in Fort Myers after having 19 extra base hits in 2011.

Josmil Pinto- Pinto returns to Fort Myers and will do some catching and some DHing.

Reggie Williams- The crowd favorite, Williams returns to the Miracle for another season where he will play everywhere.

Pitching

Pat Dean- Dean returns to the Miracle for another season as he tries to build off his 2011 season.

BJ Hermsen- Hermsen returns to Fort Myers coming off a very good 3.33 era, split between Beloit and Fort Myers.

Adrian Salcedo- As one of the top prospects, Salcedo moves up to Fort Myers after going 6-6 with a very good 2.93 ERA last year with Beloit.

Manuel Soliman- Soliman had a very successful 2011 in Beloit and moves up to Fort Myers trying to improve on his 7-11 record with a very good 3.97 ERA.

Miguel Munoz- Munoz returns to Fort Myers hoping to stay healthy as he was limited to just 12 innings due to injuries.

Bullpen

Matt Hauser- The hard throwing Hauser returns to Fort Myers coming off a season in which he struck out 75 men in just over 63 innings.

Clint Dempster- Dempster split 2011 between Beloit and Fort Myers and had 60 strikeouts in 68 innings.

Jhon Garcia- Garcia returns to Fort Myers where in 2011 he had a solid 3.82 ERA for the Miracle.

Edgar Ibarra - Ibarra returns to Fort Myers trying to rebound from his 5.16 ERA he composed in 2011 between starting and relieving.

Caleb Thielbar- Thielbar signed in late August of last year (the first player the Twins have signed from the St. Paul Saints) will try to contribute to the Miracle bullpen.

Jose Gonzalez- The diminuative Gonzalez moves up to Fort Myers coming off a 2.47 ERA including 13 saves in 2011 for the Snappers.

Tony Davis- The hard throwing Davis comes back to Fort Myers after spending 2011 in New Britain and held his own, but because of the numbers I have him back in Fort Myers.

The Miracle had a rough 2011. However, with that pitching staff, the guys that are coming back for a second season, and the infusion of talent from Beloit, there is no reason to think that the Miracle can’t contend for another Florida State League title. The fans in Fort Myers are in for an exciting summer where they will see some exciting baseball once again.