By Naples Daily News staff

The Minnesota Twins signed a new four-year player development contract to
keep their Single-A team in Fort Myers, team officials announced Thursday.

The current agreement between the Twins and the Goldklang Group, which owns
the Miracle, expired at the end of the 2004 season.

The two sides had been working on a new contract for months.

"We're really glad it got taken care of," said Miracle assistant general
manager Andrew Seymour. "It's a great thing for the area."

The agreement comes two months after the Twins and Lee County reached a
10-year extension on their spring training agreement that will run through 2020.

It also means there will be stability at Hammond Stadium for years to come,
unlike other Florida State League cities.

In the last month, the Milwaukee Brewers have taken over operations at
Brevard County while the Cincinnati Reds will have a Florida State League team
in
Sarasota next year after the Boston Red Sox bolted for the South Atlantic
League.

The Twins organization has always taken pride on moving "home grown" talent
throughout their organization.

That has never been more evident than this season with Joe Mauer, J.D.
Durbin, Jason Kubel and Jesse Crain wearing Twins jerseys, all four were in
Miracle
jersey's in 2003. More than half the current Twins roster played in Fort Myers
at some point in the last seven years.

"The Twins and Miracle have worked side-by-side for 13 years and we look
forward to many more successful seasons to come," said Miracle President Linda
McNabb. "The Twins and Miracle both take pride in helping the community, believe
in family affordable fun and our organizations work together in providing the
best product for Southwest Florida fans."

Fort Myers recently had been reported as being looked into as a possible site
for a Tampa Bay Devil Rays Class A team. The Devil Rays instead signed an
agreement with Visalia in the California League.

October 1, 2004


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