Miracle set roster as opening day nears

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

A roster heavy with pitching — a record 13 — will arm the Fort Myers Miracle as they open their 16th season, with the home opener set for 7:05 p.m. Friday at Hammond Stadium.

The Miracle, the Class A, minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, announced their 25-man roster Monday.

Carrying 13 pitchers gives the Miracle two more than the Twins have in the big leagues.

Keeping that many allows the Twins a backlog of insurance for the Double-A and Triple-A affiliates. Should a Twins starting pitcher falter early at the big-league level, a domino effect of promotions could ensue.

Kyle Waldrop, a first-round draft pick in 2005, headlines this year's group of Miracle prospects and will start the season opener at 7:05 p.m. Thursday in Sarasota against the Reds.

The rotation also includes Jay Rainville, a second-round draft pick in 2005 who is making a comeback from a shoulder injury that cost him last season.

Oswaldo Sosa, who began spring training in big-league camp, will start the home opener Friday against the Reds.

How deep is the Miracle pitching staff? Yohan Pino, who has compiled a 33-5 record and 1.93 ERA in three minor-league seasons, can't even crack the starting rotation.

The rotation will be Waldrop, Sosa, Alexander Smit, Rainville and Kyle Aselton.

Toby Gardenhire, son of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, will begin the season with the Miracle as a utility player off the bench.

MIRACLE 25-MAN ROSTER

Starting pitchers: RHP Kyle Waldrop, RHP Oswaldo Sosa, LHP Alexander Smit, RHP Jay Rainville and LHP Kyle Aselton,
The bullpen: Angel Garcia, Josh Hill, Frank Mata, Eddie Morlan, Ryan Mullins, Yohan Pino, David Shinkie and Zach Ward
Catchers: Jeff Christy, Caleb Moore, Javier Sanchez
First base: Erik Lis, Matt Betsill
Second base: Juan Portes
Third base: Whit Robbins
Shortstop: Steve Tolleson, Toby Gardenhire
Outfield: Edward Ovalle, Eli Tintor, Dwayne White