Four Miracle gain All-Star selection

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

Four members of the Fort Myers Miracle baseball team have been chosen for the Florida State League All-Star game.

One of those players, pitcher Matt Garza, won't be able to play. That's because he received a promotion to Double-A New Britain after dominating at the Class A level.

But pitcher Kevin Slowey, second baseman Alexi Casilla and catcher Kyle Geiger will be able to compete in the game, to take place at 7:35 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, spring training home of the Detroit Tigers.

"They've done a nice job this year," Miracle manager Kevin Boles said Thursday on his way to Daytona, where the Miracle will play a four-game series against the Daytona Cubs. "All of those guys have."

Garza, 22, had a 5-1 record and a 1.42 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings with the Miracle. He limited opposing batters to a .169 average. Garza is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA after three starts for New Britain.

Slowey, 22, also appears due for a promotion.

In 10 games entering Thursday, Slowey had a 2-1 record and a 1.48 ERA. In 60 2/3 innings, he had struck out 75 batters while walking just six. He had held opposing batters to a .165 average.

"There's no fear," Boles said. "He has no fear of throwing it over the plate. He's the perfect example of what a professional pitcher should be like."

Casilla, 21, was hitting .308 with 19 RBI through Wednesday. He had stolen 17 bases in 22 attempts. He had played 29 games at second base and 20 games at shortstop and had just 10 errors.

Geiger, 24, was hitting .248 with 12 RBI entering Thursday's game. He has thrown out 32 percent of all would-be base stealers.

"He's the best hitting catcher in our division," Boles said. "He's done a nice job handling the pitchers."

The Miracle are organizing a fan bus trip to the game. Info: 239-768-4210.