By Scott Hotard
Naples Daily News

FORT MYERS — For the coaches and players inside the Minnesota Twins
clubhouse, their first day of full-squad workouts might have been the
toughest.

By the time the Twins took to the practice fields Saturday morning, they
knew that Jose Mijares, a 22-year-old left-hander, would be heading home
for a while.

Jackson Mijares, Jose’s brother, was shot and killed Friday night in a bar
in Caracas, Venezuela. Two other family members were shot and wounded.

“It’s a very tough situation for our team to deal with,” said Twins
manager Ron Gardenhire.

“Jose’s going to go home and be with his family. It’s been a tough
situation, but it also puts things in perspective a little bit better. Our
thoughts and prayers are with Jose and his family.”

Mijares, a Caracas native, spent the entire 2006 season with the Fort
Myers Miracle. He went 3-5 with a 3.57 ERA.

Sunday, February 25, 2007