DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 21, 2013) - The Florida State League All-Star team for 2013 was announced today by League President Chuck Murphy and the Fort Myers Miracle were well-represented. Doug Mientkiewicz was named Manager of the Year and left-handed pitcher Taylor Rogers, catcher Matt Koch and designated hitter Kennys Vargas were also honored.



Mientkiewicz, 39, is in his first season with the Miracle and joined the Minnesota Twins minor league coaching staff after spending the 2012 season as a hitting coach in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. A 12-year Major League veteran, Mientkiewicz led the Miracle to a 45-22 record in the first half. The 45 wins in a half is tied for the most-ever by a Miracle team and was last accomplished in 2008. The first half winning percentage of .672 is the highest in team history.



Guiding seven Miracle players to FSL All-Star game selections in mid-June, Mientkiewicz has managed two of the top three prospects in professional baseball. Byron Buxton, the current Miracle center fielder, is the top rated prospect according to MLB.com and Baseball America and former Miracle third baseman Miguel Sano is ranked third by both publications.



Under Mientkiewicz's command, the Miracle clinched the Florida State League South Division championship in the first half with a 5-4 win over the Bradenton Marauders on June 8. The Miracle return to the FSL playoffs for the first time since 2009 with the opening game of the postseason set for September 3 on the road.



"First and foremost, I'm very proud and honored to have managed all of the players I have had this summer," said Mientkiewicz. "They have all worked very hard for us and, for that, we are grateful."



Rogers, 22, was one of four pitchers recognized on the 2013 FSL All-Star team. An 11th round draft pick of the Twins in 2012, Rogers has compiled a 10-6 record in 20 games, 19 starts, over 120.2 innings. Rogers' earned run average of 2.76 is currently second in the FSL and so are his 10 wins.



In 2013, Rogers has tossed three complete games including a pair of nine inning shutouts. On July 18 against the Dunedin, Rogers allowed just one hit with eight strikeouts and blanked the Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Rogers was also a mid-season All-Star in the FSL and started the 2013 FSL All-Star game on June 15.



Koch, 24, boasts the top average for a catcher in the Florida State League at .279 and was one of two catchers named to the FSL All-Star team. A 12th round pick by Minnesota in 2011, Koch has six homers, 19 doubles and has driven in 37 runs. Koch was also a mid-season All-Star in the FSL and started behind the plate on June 15.



Vargas, 23, has been a premier power threat in the FSL with 30 doubles, 18 homers and 86 runs driven in over 112 games. Vargas' 18 home runs is tied for second in the FSL and his 86 RBI is second-most. A non-drafted free agent signing by the Twins in 2009, the switch-hitting Vargas is fifth in the league in doubles (30), fifth in slugging percentage (.484), fourth in extra-base hits (49) and fourth in total bases (200). Vargas was also a mid-season FSL All-Star and represented the Miracle at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on June 15.



"All-Star teams are a tremendous honor," said Mientkiewicz, "Many players deserve to be on this list that are not, but congratulations to those that were selected."



The Player of the Year in the FSL for 2013 was St. Lucie Mets slugger Dustin Lawley. With a league-best 25 home runs, Lawley also leads in RBI with 90. The Pitcher of the Year is Justin Nicolino of the Jupiter Hammerheads. Nicolino posted a 5-2 record with a 2.23 earned run average and was promoted to Double-A Jacksonville in July.



The Miracle have 14 games remaining in the regular season and begin the FSL South Divisional Playoff Series on the road on Tuesday, September 3. The Miracle will play at home on Wednesday, September 4 and, if necessary, Thursday, September 5.