Rasmussen Will Return as Miracle Pitching Coach

Joins Boles and Dwyer on 2006 Miracle Coaching Staff

By Sean Aronson
Fort Myers Miracle

FORT MYERS, FL – Eric Rasmussen was the former pitching coach of the Fort Myers Miracle for about a month, but the Twins organization announced he will return as the Miracle pitching coach for the 2006 season.

Rasmussen, 53, who was scheduled to be the pitching coach of the GCL Twins in 2006, was reassigned to the Miracle due to a domino effect. Red Wings pitching coach Bobby Cuellar is the new bullpen coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates, which sent Stu Cliburn, pitching coach of the New Britain Rock Cats (Double-A Twins) to the Red Wings. With the opening at Double-A, newly named Miracle pitching coach Gary Lucas takes over the helm for the Rock Cats, which left the opening for Rasmussen to return.

Rasmussen will enter his 10th season as pitching coach with the Miracle. He spent 1996-97 with the team and then went to New Britain in 1998 before returning in 1999. He guided the Miracle pitching staff to the best ERA in the Florida State League in 2005, 3.35. The Miracle pitching staff was among the league leaders in many other categories including complete games with 10 (1st), fewest hits allowed, 13 shutouts (2nd) and fourth most strikeouts. Adam Harben finished with the fourth best ERA in the league and three-fifths of Rasmussen's opening day rotation was called up during the season.

Rasmussen was a 32nd round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals and played eight seasons in the Major League's with the Cardinals (1975-78, 82-83), San Diego Padres (78-80) and the Kansas City Royals (83). He was 50-77, 3.85 in 238 games. He holds a Major League record by pitching a shutout in his first National League game July 21, 1975 and first American League game August 6, 1983.

Rasmussen resides in Cape Coral with his wife Linda, twin sons Derek and Brock and Michael.

Rasmussen rejoins the Miracle coaching staff, which will include first year Miracle Manager Kevin Boles and new coach Jim Dwyer. The 30-year-old Boles will spend his first season with the Miracle in 2006 after spending the last two seasons with the Class-A affiliate of the Twins, the Beloit Snappers. He guided the Snappers to a playoff berth in 2005. During his five year managerial career he is 236-228 (.509) and 137-139 (.496) with the Twins. He spent one season playing minor league baseball and was a 42nd round pick of the Chicago Cubs in 1998. His father John is the former manager of the Florida Marlins.

Dwyer, spent the last nine seasons as minor league hitting coordinator and will spend his first season as the Miracle hitting coach. Dwyer was an 11th round pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971 and played 18 seasons with seven different teams. He is one of 13 players in Major League history with 100-plus pinch-hits.

Trainer Larry Bennese returns for his seventh season with the Miracle. He was named the FSL Trainer of the Year in 1995 (St. Lucie), 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003, all with the Miracle. He was a rehabilitation coordinator for the Twins minor league complex in 1996 and is a graduate of Penn State University.

Former Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram was promoted to Double-A New Britain and will spend his first year as manager of the Rock Cats in 2006. He was their hitting coach in 2003.

The Miracle begin their 2006 season on the road against the Sarasota Reds on Thursday, April 6. The Miracle home opener is Saturday, April 8 against the Reds at 7:05 p.m. For more information call the Miracle office at 239-768-4210 or go on line to www.miraclebaseball.com.