WOODVILLE &045; Fort Myers, Fla., is a long way from Woodville, but it’s closer than a lot of places Matt Tolbert could have ended up.

The 23-year-old Woodville native is playing for the Fort Myers Miracle, a Class A minor league baseball team in the Minnesota Twins organization. But a few months ago, Tolbert thought he might end up in Beloit, Wisconsin, playing for the Twins low A ballclub, the Beloit Snappers.

&uot;I’m so glad I’m here rather than in Beloit,&uot; Tolbert said.

Tolbert had plans other than Beloit and as it turned out, the Twins organization agreed. When spring training came to a close, he went to Fort Myers with the Miracle.

&uot;They told me that sometimes you’ll start at this level and then get sent down when spring training ends and guys start filtering down, but I stayed here,&uot; Tolbert said.

The jump from rookie ball, where Tolbert batted .308 for the Elizabethtown Twins, to starting most days for the Miracle is a big one, but Tolbert’s manager in Fort Myers, Riccardo Ingram, said Tolbert deserves the promotion he got.

&uot;This is the level he belongs at,&uot; Ingram said. &uot;It’s rare to find a guy that can jump from rookie ball up to high A ball in one year, but he’s done it. It’s a long way from E-town to Fort Myers.&uot;

Tolbert is playing in most of the Miracles’ games, slotting in at shortstop and second base depending on where the team needs him. He played shortstop in high school and in college at Ole Miss. For the Miracle, he’s hitting a modest .263, but he leads the team in triples with three this season and Ingram said his defense has been good.

Right now the only thing slowing Tolbert and his Miracle teammates is rain. Six of the team’s first nine games in June were delayed or postponed because of rain in Florida.

His biggest fans are parents Patty and Ben Tolbert, who drove down to spring training this season to watch Matt play and deliver a car to him &045; Tolbert flew to spring training, not knowing that he would end up staying in Florida.

&uot;We went this spring. The Twins had given him a plane ticket to spring training, so he flew,&uot; Ben said. &uot;But you don’t know where you’re going to be after spring training. They have teams everywhere. So after spring training, they tell you, ‘Here’s where you’re going’ and kick you out of the hotel. So we took him a vehicle and got to see him play in three games. It was a treat to watch him play.&uot;

Matt’s slowly adjusting to life away from the protective shell of his parents or the college environment. He said he’s learning to cook in his free time, largely out of necessity.

&uot;I can’t just go out and get fast food because I shouldn’t eat that stuff,&uot; Tolbert said. &uot;I have to keep up my energy so I cook for myself. I’m learning how to do that. I just do basic stuff. I grill a lot. They say the better you eat the longer you last.&uot;

The rest of his free time is taken up lounging on the beach, which is just five minutes from his apartment. The beach and the atmosphere in the Florida State League &045; the minor league ballparks are the spring training homes for Major League teams.

Just don’t expect to see him back in Woodville any time soon, unless it’s just for a visit. Tolbert plans on spending a good deal more of the next few years playing baseball.

&uot;I had a good time this winter there, hanging out with the family,&uot; Tolbert said. &uot;But now you have to do what you have to do. I sure don’t want to get a job anytime soon. I have too much energy to be sitting a desk yet.&uot;

Tolbert’s trying to do everything he can to make sure he doesn’t have to get that desk job yet, and said the best thing he does it work hard.

&uot;He’s a good guy and his energy level is unmatched,&uot; Ingram said. &uot;He comes to work every day and he works hard.&uot;

Tolbert’s dream is to play in the Major Leagues, and he’s working every day to reach that goal, one he’s had for most of his life.

&uot;He wants to make it all the way,&uot; Ben Tolbert said. &uot;I know he’s thought about it since he was 7 or 8. He always liked any sport out there. He’s always loved baseball.&uot;

To reach the majors, Tolbert said he needs to make his play better each day.

&uot;I’m just trying to be consistent. That’s all it’s about,&uot; Tolbert said. &uot;You need a consistent swing and make plays on defense. It sounds simple, but it’s baseball and it’s pretty tough to do. You get consistent and you’ll move up. But there’s a lot of guys that want to move up too.&uot;

A big part of that is keeping a positive attitude through the tough times.

&uot;The guys always tell us, ‘Just keep a uniform on your back. Sometimes you’re 0-20 and you think, ‘What am I doing here?’&uot; Tolbert said. &uot;But everybody goes through that. Hall of Famers still get out seven out of 10 times. You’re not going to be successful all the time.&uot;

Tolbert played at Centreville Academy and Ole Miss before the Twins drafted him, and he said he’s been following the Rebels’ run through the NCAA postseason tournament with fervor.

&uot;Yeah, I’m so excited. They’re doing awesome,&uot; Tolbert said. &uot;The four years I was there we were trying to get Coach Bianco to 40 wins and now they’re going for 50. I keep thinking I need to call him up and congratulate him.&uot;

But then again, given how his professional career is going, coach Bianco might want to congratulate Tolbert.