The Fort Myers Miracle embark on their 19th season in Southwest Florida Thursday night when the Class A Florida State League club sends rookie Kyle Gibson to the mound against the Marauders in Bradenton.

“I’m thrilled to be pitching and start the first game,” Gibson said at the team’s preseason press conference. “I’m sure I will be a little nervous. Anyone who says they would not be nervous is lying, but after the first couple of pitches the nerves will go away. I just don’t want to put too much pressure on myself.”

Gibson is the 2009 first-round draft pick of the Minnesota Twins out of the University of Missouri, but the 6-foot-6 right-hander missed last season with a stress fracture in his right forearm.

“It was painful and I did not know what it was,” said Gibson, 22, who will be making his professional career debut against the Marauders. “It came about in the last three weeks of the college season. My fastball went from 90-92 mph down to 84-85.”

Once diagnosed, he spent last summer mending and strengthening his arm again with rehab. Now he is completely recovered. He threw his first pitch in competition in the instructional league last October – about 14 innings – and about 15 innings against Triple-A and Double-A hitters during spring training.

“I’m ready for the test,” he said. “I’m glad the Twins took a chance on me in the draft once the news of the injury got out. Being in this organization is good for me.”

Gibson will have plenty of veterans on the pitching staff to learn from. Eleven Miracle players from last season’s Southern Division championship team return for this season. Five of those are pitchers.

“We have an interesting mix of veterans and rookies, some of whom are playing for the first time at the professional level,” said first-year Miracle manager Jake Mauer. “I want to give the players every opportunity to succeed at this level and to move up in the organization. Success of the minor league program translates to success with the major league team.”

Nowhere in the majors is that more evident than with the Twins. Sixteen of the current 25 players on the roster wore a Miracle uniform. Overall, 116 former Miracle players have played or are playing at the major league level.

The Florida State League has been a pitching-rich league for decades and the 2010 season is no different. Same for the Miracle.

“Our starting pitching will be our strength this season,” said Mauer, who managed the Gulf Coast League Twins to 69 wins. “We have to find a way to score runs because all the teams in the league will have good pitching. It will be a good test for our boys.”

Mauer added, “The roster is extremely talented, but the high expectations may be somewhat unfair. It’s good to have high expectations, like winning the division title three times in the last two seasons. Our returning players will show leadership to our young guys. Show them how we do things on and off the field. I’m a big believer in team chemistry. These guys will pull for each other.”

Right-hander Matt Williams is one of the returnees, but will start the season on the seven-day disabled list. That move prompted the Miracle to add Ron Mahay, who played for the Royals and Twins last season, to the opening roster. He is joined on the staff by veterans Michael Allen, Henry Arias, Bobby Lanigan and Michael Tarsi, all with two to fours years of pro experience.

Catcher Jair Fernandez is back to handle the duties behind the plate, along with infielders Chris Cates, Deibinson Romero, Nick Romero and Yangervis Solarte as well as outfielder Evan Bigley.

“It is good to have a coach like Jake that (the players) can relate to better,” said Bigley. “If you go through a slump, he can pick us up and help us on and off the field.”

The rest of the pitching staff includes newcomers Billy Bullock, Tony Davis, Blake Martin, Bruce Pugh, Brad Tippett and 2008 Twins first-round draft pick out of Tulane Shooter Hunt.

The Miracle make their home debut Friday night against the Marauders. Saturday’s game at Hammond Stadium is billed as the first “Kid’s Opener.” All kids 12 and under will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, soda and chips in addition to many other kid-oriented festivities.

Manager: (12) Jake Mauer (first season)

Coaches: (13) Steve Mintz (pitching); (26) Jim Dwyer (hitting); Larry Bennese (trainer); Mike MacDonald (strength)

NO. PITCHERS B/T Ht Wt

25Michael AllenR/R 6-3 227

41Henry AriasR/R 6-4 222

35Billy BullockR/R 6-6 225

23Tony DavisS/L 5-11 185

44Kyle GibsonR/R 6-6 208

22Shooter HuntR/R 6-3 205

36Bobby LaniganR/R 6-4 223

32Blake MartinL/L 6-2 182

-Ron MahayL/L6-2190

28Bruce PughR/R 6-3 176

37Michael TarsiR/L 6-8 202

17Brad TippettR/R 6-2 184

27*Matt WilliamsR/R 6-1 180

CATCHERS

18Jair FernandezR/R 6-1 170

7Chris HerrmannL/R 6-0 185

8Dan RohlfingR/R 6-0 188

INFIELDERS

1Chris CatesR/R 5-3 145

30Nate HansonR/R 5-11 192

10Paul KellyR/R 6-1 185

24Deibinson RomeroR/R 6-0 193

5Nick RomeroS/R 6-1 198

2Yangervis SolarteS/R 5-11 193

9Drew ThompsonL/R 6-0 155

OUTFIELDERS

21Evan BigleyR/R 6-0 211

16Michael HarringtonL/R 5-11 199

4Ramon SantanaR/R 5-9 165

* Disabled List