Miracle's Roberts honored by TOPPS

Naples Daily News
Staff Report

The Minnesota Twins scouting department is highly regarded in baseball circles. They hit the nail on the head when the Twins traded Juan Castro to the Cincinnati Reds for minor league outfielder Brandon Roberts on June 19 as Roberts was named the Florida State League TOPPS Player of the Month for July.

The 21-year-old outfielder hit .394-2-16 in 27 games in the month of July. In 109 at bats he had 43 hits, eight doubles and 17 runs scored and was 12-14 in stolen bases. He hit safely in 23 of 27 games he appeared in, including a Miracle season tying high 13 straight games. He also put together a streak of seven straight multi-hit games.

Roberts is currently hitting .347-2-24 in 43 games with the Miracle. In 176 at bats he has 61 hits, nine doubles, 25 runs scored with an on base percentage of .396 and a slugging percentage of .432. He is 18-21 in stolen bases. He is currently first in the league in steals (41), tied for second in runs scored (65), third in hits (127) and tied for sixth in average (.300).

This is the first TOPPS Player of the Month award for a Miracle player. The Miracle are currently 23-18 in the second half, two games out of first place.

MIRACLE FALL TO DODGERS

The Fort Myers Miracle had plenty of opportunities against the Vero Beach Dodgers on Monday night at Hammond Stadium, but they stranded 14 base runners and lost to a team 25 games under .500, 5-2.

The Miracle left the bases loaded in three separate innings, including the ninth.