(This one didn't quite make it to the online edition.
Had to scan it in. Kubel's projected to start in the
Rock Cats line up. I was actually surprised he didn't
go up last summer.
Profile is avaiable at
http://www.geocities.com/fmmiraclegal/players/kubel.html)

By ANDY KENT
Naples Daily News

FORT MYERS - Jason Kubel's surroundings were very
familiar Friday afternoon, which helps explain why the
shy 21-year-old felt so at home.

Kubel made his 2004 spring training debut with the
Minnesota Twins a memorable one by homering in his
second at-bat at Hammond Stadium. His solo shot
cleared the wall in right field where he roamed all
summer as a member of the Class A Fort Myers Miracle -
and helped Minnesota to a 10 - 4 win over the
Cincinnati Reds.

"Hitting a home run was the last thing on my mind I
was just trying to hit the ball somewhere," said
Kubel, who went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, before
Saturday's 6-2 Grapefruit League win over the Boston
Red Sox. "It felt all right leaving the bat but I
wasn't too sure. Everyone was up yelling and giving me
high-fives when I touched home."

Miracle fans weren't surprised at all, not after
watching Kubel drive in 125 runs, hit 298 and commit
just two errors all season.

He was ranked the 17th best prospect and best outfield
arm in the Florida State League by Baseball America
and made both the midseason and postseason All-Star
teams.

Unfortunately for Kubel, he happened to be on the same
team as phenom catcher Joe Mauer and high profIle
pitching prospects Jesse Crain and J.D. Durbin. Mauer
is being penciled in as the Twins' starting catcher
for the upcoming season and Crain and Durbin are
making strong cases for landing on the Opening Day
roster.

Shannon Stewart, Hunter and Jacque Jones are secure in
the outfield, and a bevy of more experienced players
are ahead of Kubel for that fifth spot. He likely will
have to treat his first camp more as a learning
experience than as an opportunity to make the club.

"There are a lot of little things that he needs to
learn," Twins first base and outfielders coach Jerry
White said. "He has some ability, and I just notice
just watching him in the outfield that there's little
things that we do that he needs to pick up on. He's
doing a good job."

Kubel's locker in the clubhouse is in between veterans
Corey Koskie and Doug Mientkiewicz, and he said those
two guys as well as Hunter, Jones and Stewart all have
been willing to help him.

He said Jones came out earlier in the week when White
was working with him on his bunting and gave him some
tips. And the fact that all of those guys once were in
Kubel's shoes gives him hope.<P>

"Everybody comes up through the minor leagues so it's
good for all of us," Kubel, who entered Saturday's
game in the bottom of the eighth, said. "They like to
promote within the system so it gives us all a good
shot. I'm very excited to be here. This is the most
fun I've ever had playing baseball."

Just like he was back home.

NOTES: Former Twin David Ortiz launched the first
pitch he saw from Brad Radke deep over the right-field
wall in the top of the second inning for his first
homer of the spring. "I wanted to see how far Dave
could hit it," Radke said of the fastball he threw
down the middle. "He hit it pretty far." The ball
landed in the lake beyond the trees. Ortiz finished
2-for-3 on the day, also stroking a double off of
Durbin in the fourth.

Red Sox starter Byung-Hun Kim walked Twins leadoff
hitter Lew Ford, then retired the next six batters he
faced before leaving the game at the end of the second
inning. Kim is one of only eight natives of South
Korea to play in the majors.

Durbin put together a 1-2-3 inning in the third and in
the top of the fourth he went right after Boston,
slugger Manny Ramirez, striking him out looking on a
curveball. He got Ortiz to whiff at two change-ups
before giving up the double to left.

Twins right fielder Michael Restovich went 2-for-4
with a solo home run to left, a two-run double and
three RBIs, Mauer went 2-for-3 with an RBI and
designated hitter Matt LeCroy went l-for-3 with a
double and two RBIs.

Kapler went 2-for-2 with a run and RBI for Boston.

Left-hander Johan Santana will start today in Sarasota
against Cincinnati and righty Jose Acevedo at 1:05
p.m. Right-hander Sean Douglass starts Monday in a
splitsquad game in Tampa against the New York Yankees
and righty Kyle Lohse gets the start at City of Palms
Park in the other split-squad game against the Red
Sox.


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