MICHAEL PISTELLA Fort Myers Miracle infielder Nick Romero is one of 15 players on the 2011 Opening Day roster that spent time in a Miracle uniform last season.

It would have been okay with Fort Myers Miracle manager Jake Mauer if the Florida State League season had started Wednesday instead of 24 hours later.

“I’m looking forward to getting started,” Mauer said Wednesday afternoon at Hammond Stadium before a team workout. “We have 15 players returning from last year and I hope we can pick up where we left off.”

Where the Miracle left off last September was one game out of the postseason playoffs after winning 16 of their last 21 games.

“I think we will get off to a quicker start this year,” said Mauer. “We have a few more guys with Florida State League experience this year. We started slow last year, but I look for a quicker start than last year, no doubt about it.”

The Miracle sputtered to a 28-42 start in the first half last season, finishing fifth in the South Division standings 15 1/2 games behind division leader Charlotte. The second half went a bit better – 36-32 and tied with Charlotte for second, just one game back.

“It will come down to pitching and defense like it always does,” said Mauer, who guided the Miracle to a 64-74 overall record in his first year as manager. “Pitching and defense will be our strength along with the middle of our order. We’re faster in the outfield, no doubt, and our infield looks tighter. Playing good defense can get you out of a lot of jams.”

Kane Holbrooks, a 2009 first-round draft pick of the parent Minnesota Twins, gets the opening day pitching assignment Thursday night when the Miracle visit the Jupiter Hammerheads for the first two games.

“I’m happy as can be about (opening day),” said Holbrooks, who relies on his fastball against opposing batters. “When I got to spring training I didn’t know if I would be a starter or a reliever. They told me I would start and now I’m really pumped up about it.”

Holbrooks, a right-hander from Texas who was 3-3 in seven starts with the Miracle, admitted to not being at his best when he first joined the team last season.

“The big thing was adjusting to the weather change,” he said. “I was out of shape and wore down. I hate to walk people. Our defense is unbelievable. I’ve never played anywhere with a defense behind me this good.”

Another of the 15 returnees is 2010 first-round draft pick Alex Wimmers. The product of Ohio State made an impressive debut after signing in August. He finished 2-0 with a stellar 0.57 ERA. He tossed five no-hit innings in just his third outing.

“I got my feet wet, and a sense of what it is like last season,” Wimmers said. “This team has a chemistry that will be huge for us in starting out strong.”

His first start is Monday at Hammond Stadium against the St. Lucie Mets.

“We have a lot of versatility in our lineups this year,” said Mauer. “If anything I’ve learned to stay the course. If you panic you start to change things up. I know these guys and what they are capable of. I just need to put them in the right position to thrive.”

Part of that strategy starts with outfielder Aaron Hicks, a 2008 first-round draft pick.

“I’ve learned that I have to be more aggressive on the bases, steal a lot of bases,” said Hicks. “This group, I like our chances.”

Hicks, ranked as the second-best prospect overall by Baseball America, hit .279 with 27 doubles, six triples and eight home runs at Beloit last year. He also drew 88 walks and posted a .401 on-base percentage in 115 games.

Hicks is touted as a disciplined hitter while carrying the best defensive arm in the Twins farm system.

The Miracle take the field this year with a new look to the uniforms and the team logos, a move that was unveiled last fall.

“It was just time,” said Miracle general manager Steve Gliner. “It’s our 20th year here so we decided to update it and modernize it. We’ve had a very positive response. It was not a drastic change, but with our fan base and our market it was the best way to go.”

“The players seem excited about the new uniforms,” said Mauer.

The Miracle play their first game at Hammond Stadium Saturday night with right-hander Tom Stuifbergen of the Netherlands on the hill against the Hammerheads.

Tickets to Saturday’s home opener are available free at all Wendy’s locations in Lee and Collier counties. Those tickets can be upgraded to a box seat for $2. One of the team’s popular postgame fireworks shows erupts after the final out.

Miracle Opening Day Roster

Manager: (12) Jake Mauer (second season; 64-74)

Coaches: (13) Steve Mintz (pitching); (26) Jim Dwyer (hitting); Chris Johnson (trainer); Erik Beiser (strength & conditioning); T.J. Weill (clubhouse manager)

NO. PITCHERS B/T Ht Wt

-Paul Bargas*R/R 6-1 205

-Tony Davis*S/L 5-11 185

38Jhon GarciaR/R 6-1 175

33Kane HolbrooksR/R 6-3 220

22Shooter HuntR/R 6-3 205

39Edgar IbarraL/L 6-0 182

32Blake MartinL/L 6-2 182

40Miguel MunozR/R6-2175

25Bruce PughR/R 6-3 176

41Dan OsterbrockL/L 6-3 195

31Brad StillingsR/R 6-4 205

44Tom StuifbergenR/R 6-3 256

-Brad Tippett*R/R 6-2 184

17Matt ToneL/L 6-1 210

27Dakota WattsR/R 6-5 210

21Alex WimmersR/R 6-2 205

CATCHERS

4Chris HerrmannL/R 6-0 195

35Danny RamsR/R 6-2 231

8Dan RohlfingR/R 6-0 188

INFIELDERS

2James BeresfordL/R 6-1 151

11Brian DozierR/R 5-11 190

7Nate HansonR/R 5-11 192

15Anderson HidalgoR/R 5-9 195

10Paul KellyR/R 6-1 185

9Nick RomeroS/R 6-1 198

-Ramon Santana*R/R 5-9 165

OUTFIELDERS

16Jhon GoncalvesR/R 5-11 193

5Aaron HicksS/R 6-2 178

23Steven LiddleL/L 6-1 200

-Angel Morales*R/R 6-1 195

* Disabled List