Miracle have ridden Lis’ HR surge

By DAVE DEVEREUX
Cape Coral Daily Breeze

In his third season playing in the Minnesota Twins organization, Erik Lis is supplying power much like he did in his first two seasons.

Lis, 23, leads the Fort Myers Miracle with 16 home runs, equalling the number he hit last season at Beloit, the Twins’ low-Class A affiliate. That came after 10 home runs in 49 games with Elizabethtown in 2005.

Despite those numbers, Lis doesn’t consider himself a power hitter. At least, not yet.

“I’m more of a gap-to-gap hitter,” said Lis, who has 32 doubles this season. “I wouldn’t call myself a power hitter. Hopefully, I can say that down the road.”

That road is the one through the Twins’ minor league system with the next stop being Double-A New Britain. Lis hasn’t reached gotten that call yet, despite a strong season at the plate for the Miracle.

Lis was expected to be a primary run producer in the heart of the Miracle (33-26) lineup this season and has played 121 of the 129 games, including Tuesday night’s 9-3 loss to Dunedin (38-20) at Hammond Stadium.

“He’s lived up to his billing,” Miracle manager Kevin Boles said. “Especially after the season he had at Beloit last year, he’s become a more complete hitter this year.”

After a slow start, Lis has turned it on in the second half of the Florida State League season. He leads the league with 90 RBI and has earned Offensive Player of the Week honors the past two weeks.

From Aug. 12-18, Lis hit .417 with nine extra-base hits, including four home runs and 13 RBI.

Lis’ offensive surge has coincided with the Miracle’s 14-7 record in August.

“The biggest thing is he’s been coming through with clutch RBI,” Boles said. “They’ve tried to pitch around him, but when they’ve made mistakes he’s been able to drive the ball.”

Lis hasn’t make any specific adjustments at the plate. He said he’s tried to relax more, and credited the rest of the team for getting on base.

“Having (Brian) Dinkelman and (Steve) Tolleson on base all the time, it makes it a lot easier,” Lis said. “If they weren’t getting on, I wouldn’t be driving in runs.”

With the second-half success, Lis has raised his average to .279 to go along with the 16 home runs and 90 RBI. He hit .326 with 70 RBI last season at Beloit.

Though his offensive production has been consistent each season, Boles said it’s difficult to determine when a player might get promoted to the next level, as a lot depends on what each team needs throughout the organization.

For now, Lis (6-foot-1, 220) has tried to become a more well-rounded player.

The Oak Lawn, Ill., native was drafted by the Twins in the ninth round of the 2005 draft. He played first base at the University of Evansville and with Beloit and Elizabethtown, but has split time between first base and left field this season.

“I’ve just been trying to work on getting a little quicker and working on my speed and versatility,” Lis said. “I feel now I can go and play either position.”

Boles has been impressed by the versatility, adding that it’s an important factor throughout the organization.

“He’s become a very steady left fielder and first baseman. He’s mixed both,” Boles said. “That’s what they’re looking for at the top. Our major league club, they want that versatility. That’s what they’re stressing.”