Miracle name Smith manager

Special to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze

The Fort Myers Miracle have a new manager for the upcoming Florida State League baseball season.

Naples native Jeff Smith was chosen to replace Kevin Boles and will be introduced at a press conference Wednesday afternoon at Hammond Stadium.

Smith, 33, is the eighth manager in Miracle history and the first to both play for and manage the team. Smith played for the Miracle in 1997.

The Miracle went 70-70 this past season under Boles, who compiled a record of 150-130 in his two seasons at the helm. He led the Miracle to the Florida State League playoffs in 2006. Boles is leaving the Twins organization to pursue other opportunities in baseball.

Smith spent two successful seasons managing the Beloit Snappers to a 152-125 record and advancing to the Midwest League playoffs both seasons. He was named Baseball America’s Class A Manager of the Year. Beloit lost a five-game series to West Michigan in the 2007 Midwest League championship finals.

Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round in 1995, Smith spent 1996-2002 as a catcher in the organization. He played in both the Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers’ minor league systems before his career ended prior to 2005 after undergoing major left knee surgery.