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By Dana Caldwell FORT MYERS — Like so many others out there in the vast baseball landscape, the California kid was a first-round pick (of the Twins) with loads of potential. Trevor Plouffe's 67 hits (in 237 at-bats for a .283 average) were the second-most in the Appalachian League and he was ranked the sixth-best prospect of that league by Baseball America. But the jump from Elizabethton (where the shortstop had just 6 errors in 60 games) to Beloit started awfully shaky last season. When Beloit manager Kevin Boles summoned Plouffe into his office, the 18-year-old wasn't sure what to expect. Certainly not this: "Listen, we're going to stick with you. You're our guy," Boles told him. "That really boosted my confidence up, and after that I went out and played a whole lot better," said Plouffe, whose about-face made him the 12th-best Midwest League prospect, paving his way to the Fort Myers roster. Boles, the new Miracle manager who took Beloit to a second-place divisional finish in last season's second half, learned a crucial virtue from his father, John, probably best-known for being the Marlins' manager from 1996-2001. "The one thing he has always told me was, 'Be good to the kids. Be respectful,' " said Boles, whose team opens the season tonight at Sarasota before hosting the Reds at 7:05 Saturday night in Hammond Stadium. "He was tough on players when he started managing. He said, 'You know, I made some mistakes.' "After that, watching him manage on the big-league level and watching him be a farm director and a field coordinator, I learned to be patient. These guys don't mean to make mistakes. "If they're patient with their development — just relax and don't panic — they're going to be fine. Just don't force the issue." Boles said his father did not force baseball on him, although "ballparks were our playgrounds." Kevin joined John in college clubhouses when he was 4 and kept moving up with Dad along the way. He watched closely, so maybe it shouldn't be so surprising that Boles has reached this high-Class A level at the age of 30 or that he began managing at the green-old age of 23. "As far as being a younger guy, the question's always asked, ‘How do you handle it?' " said Boles, who had a cup of coffee as a catcher for Williamsport of the New York-Penn League just eight years ago. "It's very easy to handle. You treat people with respect, you get it in return." In fact, Boles' age works to his advantage. "It helps me relate to the younger players because I'm not that far removed from my playing days, and I understand what they're going through and the pressures they have," Boles said. "I try to keep them focused and realize the big leagues aren't that far away. "Plus, as far as being a player, I realize how hard it is. If I was that good a player, I'd still be playing. This is a tough business, there's a lot of pressure on these guys." Pitcher Kevin Slowey, a 21-year-old Texan who will start Saturday night after working his way from Elizabethton to Beloit to here, said Boles made his moves much easier. That's not to say he's a pushover. More like a picker-upper. "The way Kevin handled me coming in was phenomenal," Slowey said. "He's very upfront and honest with you. "He's a younger guy, so he's a little easier to relate to. I really enjoyed playing for him, and I'm thrilled to be playing for him again." More on Kevin Boles
Webposted on April 06, 2006
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Home  This article is copyright 2006 by the Naples Daily News and is used for entertainment/educational purposes only.
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Birthdate: Jan. 16, 1975