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By David Dorsey Fort Myers Miracle infielders Alexi Casilla and Trevor Plouffe have known each other for about six weeks. They feel, however, as if they have been teammates for years. The Fort Myers Miracle begin the second homestand of their 15th season at Hammond Stadium at 7:05 tonight. Casilla, 21, was 7 years old in 1992, when the Miracle first played in Fort Myers on a field surrounded by cow pastureland. A high school, a grocery store, a strip mall and condominiums have replaced the cows and pastureland. Plouffe and Casilla appear to have grown up, too. Plouffe started at shortstop, and Casilla started at second base on Opening Day. "They both play with a lot of energy," Miracle manager Kevin Boles said. "They both communicate with each other about where they're going to be on the field at all times." The Minnesota Twins, the parent club of the Class A Miracle, traded major league relief pitcher J.C. Romero to the Los Angeles Angels for Casilla in December. Now, Casilla and Plouffe will trade off playing the middle infield. "He can play shortstop and second base, and I can play shortstop and second base," said Casilla, a Dominican Republic native. "This is a high level. We're just comfortable. We know what we have to do." Plouffe, a first-round draft pick by the Twins in 2004 out of Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, Calif., made 35 errors last season. Casilla made just 15. "He's been helping me," Plouffe said of Casilla. "We've been feeding off each other. He's an exciting player to be around." Plouffe got off to a slow start last season in low-Class A Beloit, in the field and at the plate. With his batting average hovering just above .100, Boles, who managed Beloit last year, called Plouffe into his office. Plouffe expected to get an earful, and he did: but one of confidence. "I was just slumping," Plouffe said. "The first month and a half, I was hitting barely over .100. I didn't change my swing much. It was just the mental approach that I was taking." Getting a vote of confidence from Boles, Plouffe said, "that really helped me." Plouffe, a right-handed hitter, finished the season with a .223 batting average, 14 home runs, 60 RBI and eight stolen bases. Plouffe still has his manager's support, even after already logging three errors this season through Tuesday, one of which ended a perfect game by pitcher Kevin Slowey in the sixth inning Saturday. "If you see the error in the box score, what you don't see is the three or four tremendous plays he makes," Boles said. "In Sarasota the other night, he took away three base hits." Casilla, a switch-hitter, provides base hits as much as he takes them away. Casilla hit .325 with three home runs, 17 RBI and 47 stolen bases last season for Cedar Rapids, a team that competed against Boles and Beloit. "He's a weapon on the basepaths," Boles said. "He reads the pitchers. Even if he gets caught stealing, he's going to make you earn it." Although Boles plans on shifting players around this season, he plans on putting Plouffe and Casilla together more often than not. "When you see them both on the same field, starting plays, you know they're working well together," Boles said. TRADING PLACESOver the past 15 years, the Twins have traded established big-leaguers for up-and-coming minor leaguers who suited up for the Fort Myers Miracle. Here's a look at some of those trades:
Webposted on April 13, 2006
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Home  This article is copyright 2006 by the Fort Myers News Press and is used for entertainment/educational purposes only.
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2005: Twins traded LHP J.C. Romero to Angels for IF Alexi Casilla (on Miracle now)