Article: 2016 Ft. Myers Miracle Roster Revealed

[Seth Stohs]

Today, the Ft. Myers Miracle announced their 2016 Opening Day roster. In 2015, the Miracle put together a record of 76-63 which was best record in the Florida State League South Division, but they did not make the playoffs. Why? They finished second in the division in the first half and third in the division in the second half. They hope to put together a similar season in 2016 but find a way to bring playoff baseball to Hammond Stadium.Nick Gordon is one of the best hitting prospect in the Twins system, but as it relates to this roster, it’s all about starting pitching. This team is loaded with high-ceiling starting pitcher prospects.

 

THE COACHING STAFF

 

Jeff Smith was the Miracle manager in 2008 and 2009. He then moved up to New Britain where he managed through the 2014 season. The Naples, FL, native returned to Southwest Florida last year to manage the Miracle again. Former long-time big leaguer Jim “Slice” Dwyer returns for his 11th season with the Miracle. He has been a hitting coach/coordinator in the Twins system since 1992. Henry Bonilla continues his progression through the Twins system as he moves up to the Miracle. He was with Cedar Rapids last year and with Elizabethton the two previous seasons.

 

THE ROSTER

 

The Miracle roster is comprised of a good mix of young, high-ceiling prospects, some minor league veterans and everything in between.

 

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

• RHP Kohl Stewart
• LHP Stephen Gonsalves
• RHP Felix Jorge
• LHP Randy Rosario
• RHP Keaton Steele
• LHP Tyler Jay

Right now, LHP Lewis Thorpe is on the Miracle DL. He could return to the diamond as early as mid-May (though no date or timeline is established yet). He is included in the prospects mentioned below, but even without him listed above, that group of six starters is very talented. Despite his lack of strikeouts, many scouts still believe in the future of Kohl Stewart. It is great that he will get additional time in Ft. Myers to continue building. Gonsalves jumped up prospect rankings in 2015. He spent half of the season with the Miracle, and it’s possible that’s how long he’ll stick with the Miracle this year before promotion. Randy Rosario came back from Tommy John surgery last year and showed enough to be added to the 40-man roster. It’ll be good to see the step he takes forward in 2016. Felix Jorge was very consistent in 2015 in Cedar Rapids and earned the top defensive pitcher award in the Twins system last year. Keaton Steele quietly was terrific with the Kernels after moving up midway through the season. And 2015 top pick Tyler Jay begins his transition back to the starting rotation with the Miracle. Although he is not a big man, he is blessed with a big arm and a devastating slider. It will be interesting to see how many innings he goes (and starts he makes) before ending the season in a bullpen.

 

PROJECTED RELIEF PITCHERS

Right-Handers: Luke Bard, Raul Fernandez, Brian Gilbert, Trevor Hildenberger, Yorman Landa, Todd Van Steensel

Left-Handers: Luke Westphal

 

Hildenberger was our choice for Twins minor league relief pitcher of the year in 2015. The side-winding right-hander was tremendous in Cedar Rapids and then in Ft. Myers. Todd Van Steensel dominated the Florida State League in 2015. It’s purely a numbers game as to why he remains with the Miracle. Brian Gilbert is in his third season with the Miracle. Raul Fernandez is a newcomer to the organization. He was on the 40-man roster of the Rockies and White Sox over the last two seasons. Yorman Landa throws hard. He returned late last season with the Kernels and was added to the Twins 40-man roster. The lone left-hander on the roster is Wisconsinite Luke Westphal who made a lot of starts for the Miracle a year ago.

 

PROJECTED LINEUP

• Tanner English CF (top defensive outfielder in the minor leagues, can get on base too)
• Nick Gordon SS (Top 5 Twins prospect has great tools, added strength in offseason)
• Alex Swim RF (Invited to MLB camp, Swim can hit for average, will catch too.)
• TJ White 3B (Solid defense, strong, powerful hitter with great speed.)
• Trey Vavra 1B (professional hitter missed ⅔ of last year with high-ankle injury, still led Kernels in HR in 2015.)
• Alex Real DH (will play a lot at 1B and behind the plate.)
• Edgar Corcino LF (A great athlete, Corcino plays strong defense and has some pop.)
• Ryan Walker 2B (added 15-20 pounds this offseason. Great defense.)
• Brian Navarreto C (he’s struggled with the bat, but his defense and arm can be elite.)

BENCH - Chad Christensen (LF, CF, RF, 1B, 3B), Austin Diemer (all 3 OF spots), Logan Wade (corner OF spots, 3B, 2B, 1B).

 

This lineup is full of guys who have the ability to play a variety of positions, and they likely will. Nick Gordon will play shortstop most every day. Tanner English will play in center most every day. Brian Navarreto will probably only catch. However, the rest of the lineup can and will play multiple positions.

 

THE PROSPECTS

Nick Gordon is the highest ranked prospect by most lists. However, looking at the starting rotation we find several others who are easily top 10 Twins prospects.

 

Here is a quick look at which Miracle players found their names in a variety of Twins prospect rankings and then which are in the national rankings.

 

Twins Prospect Rankings

Twins Daily Top 10: Gordon (4), Jay (5), Gonsalves (6), Stewart (9)

Seth Stohs Top 30: Gordon (4), Gonsalves (6), Jay (9), Stewart (11), Thorpe (13), Rosario (19), Jorge (22), Navarreto (29),

Jeremy Nygaard Top 30: Gordon (4), Jay (7), Stewart (8), Gonsalves (9), Thorpe (11), Jorge (18), Navarreto (21), Rosario (29)

Cody Christie Top 30: Gordon (4), Gonsalves (7), Stewart (8), Jay (9), Thorpe (12), Jorge (13), Hildenberger (22), Navarreto (26), Rosario (29)

Nick Nelson Top 10: Gordon (4), Gonsalves (5), Stewart (6), Jay (7)

Steve Buhr Top 15: Jay (5), Gonsalves (6), Gordon (7), Thorpe (11), Stewart (14)

Baseball America Top 31: Gordon (4), Jay (5), Stewart (8), Gonsalves (9), Thorpe (12), Rosario (22), Landa (23), Jorge (24), Hildenberger (27)

FanGraphs Top 25: Gordon (6), Jay (7), Gonsalves (9), Stewart (10), Thorpe (15)

Keith Law Top 20: Stewart (4), Jay (5), Gordon (7), Gonsalves (8), Thorpe (12), Landa (13),

John Sickels Top 20: Gordon (4), Jay (5), Gonsalves (7), Stewart (9), Thorpe (13),

Aaron Gleeman Top 40:Gordon (5), Jay (7), Gonsalves (8), Thorpe (11), Stewart (12), English (20), Hildenberger (25), Bard (26), Jorge (28), Landa (34)

Ted Schwerzler Top 15: Jay (3), Gordon (4), Gonsalves (6), Stewart (10), Thorpe (14)

MLB.com Top 30: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (6), Walker (11), Meyer (12), Rogers (14)

Baseball Essentials Top 20: Gordon (2), Jay (4), Stewart (7), Gonsalves (8), Thorpe (14)

 

Miracle players in National Prospect Rankings

Baseball America: Gordon (53), Jay (80)

MLB.com: Jay (60), Gordon (91)

Baseball Prospectus: Gordon (62)

KATOH (FanGraphs): Gordon (82)

 

PREDICTIONS

 

First Hitter Promoted to Twins: 1.) TJ White, 2.) Ryan Walker

First Starting Pitcher Promoted to Twins: 1.) Kohl Stewart, 2.) Stephen Gonsalves

First Relief Pitcher Promoted to Twins: 1.) Trevor Hildenberger, 2.) Luke Bard

 

TWITTER FOLLOWS

 

Ft. Myers Miracle: @MiracleBaseball

Radio Voice:Brice Zimmerman @ZimGlish

Miracle Gameday: @MiracleGameDay

Beat Writer - News Press: @DavidADorsey

 

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[DocBauer]

Wow! There is a lot of potential with this club! Normally, I sit down every off season and project my own milb rosters. I've just been too busy as of late to do so. So seeing this roster laid out really excites me.

 

I'm still a bit puzzled that Christensen doesn't play any middle infield considering he was a SS in college for most of his career. For versatility sake alone I'd think he'd get a look-see. Perhaps he's simply outgrown those spots?

 

Half this team could be mid-season promotion candidates.

[h2oface]

Seth Stohs Top 30: Gordon (4), Gonsalves (6), Stewart (11), Thorpe (13), Rosario (19), Jorge (22), Navarreto (29)

 

It must be a mistake.... I can't believe that Seth did not rank Jay at all.

 

I hope our first round and #6 overall pick makes some quick progress. The Twins can find a way to use their #1 pick on a player that takes extra time in so many different ways..... even if they are a college pitcher. Good luck to you Tyler Jay.  And Kohl Stewart. (Maybe Jeb Bush gave him a little turtle for his pocket).

[DJL44]

MLB.com top 30 is for the Red Wings

[Bob Sacamento]

Here's the lineup from Friday's game vs BoSox, wouldn't be shocked if it's something close to it:

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth Stohs Top 30: Gordon (4), Gonsalves (6), Stewart (11), Thorpe (13), Rosario (19), Jorge (22), Navarreto (29)

 

It must be a mistake.... I can't believe that Seth did not rank Jay at all.

 

I hope our first round and #6 overall pick makes some quick progress. The Twins can find a way to use their #1 pick on a player that takes extra time in so many different ways..... even if they are a college pitcher. Good luck to you Tyler Jay.  And Kohl Stewart. (Maybe Jeb Bush gave him a little turtle for his pocket).

 

Yeah, I had Tyler Jay at #9. Just missed him, but I added him back.

[clutterheart]

Really interesting pitching staff. This will be a fun group to watch.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

I watched TJ White in Cedar Rapids last August. He impressed. He's nowhere on anyone's "Top Prospect" list, yet you have him pegged as the most likely hitter to be promoted to the Twins. Please tell more.

[Tibs]

 

Wow! There is a lot of potential with this club! Normally, I sit down every off season and project my own milb rosters. I've just been too busy as of late to do so. So seeing this roster laid out really excites me.

I'm still a bit puzzled that Christensen doesn't play any middle infield considering he was a SS in college for most of his career. For versatility sake alone I'd think he'd get a look-see. Perhaps he's simply outgrown those spots?

Half this team could be mid-season promotion candidates.

He's a pretty big guy. He moved away from shortstop his senior year at Nebraska

[Seth Stohs]

 

I watched TJ White in Cedar Rapids last August. He impressed. He's nowhere on anyone's "Top Prospect" list, yet you have him pegged as the most likely hitter to be promoted to the Twins. Please tell more.

 

He was the most impressive spring training player I saw. I'd also add that there aren't a lot of hitters in this group who are likely to move up, White included. Another factor is that Chris Paul is at 3B in Cedar Rapids and I would they he could move up quick due to age and Blankenhorn maybe coming up. 

 

Bigger point... I don't know if any of these hitters move up barring injury at AA.

 

But White is an impressive power-speed combo. He's so strong  but also really fast.

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Another interesting question regarding White. He and Kris Bryant are both Las Vegas products, born twenty days apart in January of 1992. I wonder what stories White has of playing with/against Bryant?

[Seth Stohs]

Manager Jeff Smith announced the Miracle rotation to start the season:

 

Stephen Gonsalves

Kohl Stewart

Tyler Jay

Keaton Steele

Felix Jorge

Randy Rosario

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Manager Jeff Smith announced the Miracle rotation to start the season:

 

Stephen Gonsalves

Kohl Stewart

Tyler Jay

Keaton Steele

Felix Jorge

Randy Rosario

Nice!  I actually might make it to one of those games Thurs or Friday Night at home against Bradenton.  Think I might do Thursday, just so I can take pictures of Kohl Stewart charting behind homeplate, he loves it!! (No, he doesn't, he absolutely hates having his picture taken)

[nicksaviking]

There is some potential with the rotation, but the big club really, really needs one of Gonsalves, Jay or Stewart to figure it out and become a top of the rotation guy. I'd think currently all of them are looked at as having ceilings of a mid-rotation guy; someone has to over-achieve, the MLB rotation just cannot continue to operate with number 4-5 guys, maybe a 3, throughout.

[FormerMinnasotan]

There is some potential with the rotation, but the big club really, really needs one of Gonsalves, Jay or Stewart to figure it out and become a top of the rotation guy. I'd think currently all of them are looked at as having ceilings of a mid-rotation guy; someone has to over-achieve, the MLB rotation just cannot continue to operate with number 4-5 guys, maybe a 3, throughout.

Based on Gonsalves body of work so far it looks like he could be more successful than what most scouts think. That said, from what I have heard is Gonsalves needs to improve both his change up and curveball to be seen as a more top of the rotation starter. Tyler Jay from what I have heard supposedly has a ceiling as a #2 starter. And don't forget about Lewis Thorpe. He has a ton of potential and could be better than Stewart, Jay, and Gonsalves.