Miracle name Ingram new skipper

By ANDY KENT
Naples Daily News

There has been a changing of the guard in the Fort Myers Miracle dugout.

After five years of managing the Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins in the Florida State League, Jose Marzan has left to take over the newly created position of Latin American coordinator. He was replaced Tuesday by Ricardo Ingram, who managed the Gulf Coast League Twins last season to a 32-26 record.

Ingram, 38, spent three seasons as the Miracle's hitting coach form 2000-02 and worked with closely with Marzan. He also was the hitting coach at Double-A New Britain (2003) and Class A Quad Cities (1999).

"I think this is a great opportunity for me to be with the Miracle," Ingram said. "I have seen this league as a coach and a player. It will be a challenge for me to get the players through 140 games. The fact that I spent last season in the GCL will help me because I know what to expect with the temperature and the weather."

Selected by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round of the 1987 draft out of Georgia Tech, Ingram played two seasons in the Major Leagues with the Tigers in 1994 and the Twins in 1995. He hit .194 with three RBIs in 16 games.

Marzan was the winningest manager in Miracle franchise history, compiling a 362-325 record and winning two division titles.

His goal is to coach in the Major Leagues, which is why he was reluctant to make this change when asked to do so by the Twins in the past.

"After Billy Smith explained the position I saw it as a challenge," Marzan said by phone Tuesday night. "It might put on hold my goals because I won't be on the field coaching, but I'm looking forward to the different challenge. I'll still be working out of Fort Myers but I'll spend a lot of time in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela and it will be a lot of travel.".

Ingram will be joined by new hitting coach Jeff Carter, returning pitching coach Eric Rasmussen and returning trainer Larry Bennese. He resides in Lilbubrn, Ga., with his wife, Allison, and daughters, Kacey and Kristen.

Marzan was asked by the Twins for his thoughts on his successor and gave Ingram a ringing endorsement.

"My shoes are not hard to fill," Marzan joked. "Ricardo and I got along great and I congratulated him, but now he gets away from me in the GCL again. I was looking forward to working with him at that level, but I have no doubt he can do the job, he learned from the best."

The Miracle's 2005 season starts the first week of April, shortly after the Minnesota Twins break spring training.