FSL1 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Miracle coaching staff remains intact for 2007

Published on November 29, 2006 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, FL (November 29, 2006) - Miracle manager Kevin Boles, pitching coach Eric Rasmussen and hitting coach Jim Dwyer were all rewarded for an incredible 2006 season. Those three along with trainer Larry Bennese will return to the Miracle for the 2007 season, the Twins organization announced today, after leading the Miracle to their second most victories in franchise history, a second half Western Division title and a heart stopping first round playoff series which the Miracle lost two games to one.

The 31-year-old Boles will spend his second season with the Miracle in 2007 after guiding the Miracle to an 80-60 record, the best overall record in the Florida State League. The Miracle finished tied for first place in the Western Division in the first half, but lost the tie breaker to the Dunedin Blue Jays, and won the second half Western Division title on the second to last day of the season. The Miracle lost their Western Division Championship series to the Blue Jays two games to one, each game decided by one run with the final game going 11 innings. Boles spent the 2004-05 seasons with the Class-A affiliate of the Twins, the Beloit Snappers/Swing of Quad Cities. He guided the Snappers to a playoff berth in 2005. During his six year managerial career he is 316-288 (.523) and 217-199 (.522) with the Twins. He spent one season playing minor league baseball and was a 42nd round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 1998. His father John is the former manager of the Florida Marlins.

Rasmussen, 54, will enter his 11th season as pitching coach with the Miracle. He spent 1996-97 with the team and then went to New Britain in 1998 before returning in 1999. He guided the Miracle pitching staff to the third best ERA in the Florida State League in 2006, 3.55. The Miracle pitching staff was among the league leaders in many other categories including shutouts with 15 (1st) second fewest hits allowed, second most strikeouts and tied for fourth in complete games with four. Rasmussen was one of the people responsible for Matt Garza's meteoric rise through the Twins system, starting the season with the Miracle and ending it with the Minnesota Twins. Kevin Slowey spent the first half of the season with the Miracle and left with the lowest ERA in all of minor league baseball. Rasmussen spent eight seasons in the Major Leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals.

Dwyer, 56, spent his first season with the Miracle in 2006 and helped guide them to a .256 team batting average while striking out the third fewest times in the FSL. He helped Brock Peterson set the single season Miracle home run record with 21 and the career mark with 33. Dwyer spent the previous nine seasons as minor league hitting coordinator. Dwyer was an 11th round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971 and played 18 seasons with seven different teams. He is one of 13 players in Major League history with 100-plus pinch-hits.

Trainer Larry Bennese returns for his eighth season. He was named the FSL Trainer of the Year in 1995 (St. Lucie), 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003, all with the Miracle. He was a rehabilitation coordinator for the Twins minor league complex in 1996 and is a graduate of Penn State University.

The Miracle begin their 2007 season on the road against the Sarasota Reds on Thursday, April 6. The Miracle home opener is Friday, April 7 against the Reds at 7:05 p.m. For more information call the Miracle office at 239-768-4210 or go on line to www.miraclebaseball.com

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Florida State League Stories from November 29, 2006


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