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Miracle to host All-Star game on June 20

By Staff | Jun 5, 2009

The Fort Myers Miracle are hosting the 48th annual Florida State League All-Star Game on Saturday, June 20th and are well represented. The teams were announced today by League President Chuck Murphy and feature seven current Miracle players. The Miracle is hosting the league’s mid-season showcase for the fourth time (1998, 2001, 2003).

The South Division squad is highlighted by pitchers David Bromberg, Spencer Steedley, catcher Danny Lehman, infielders Chris Cates and Steve Singleton. Outfielder Ben Revere and Chris Parmalee also were selected. Pitcher Carlos Gutierrez was selected, but will not participate due to his recent promotion to Double-A New Britain. The eight selections are a club record eclipsing last year’s seven that participated in Brevard County.

The Miracle currently lead the South Division with a 32-19 record and hold a 4 game lead over Charlotte.

The team was selected by a vote of league managers, official scorers and club sports writers.

The Miracle will comprise the South Division staff with manager Jeff Smith, pitching coach Steve Mintz, hitting coach Jim Dwyer, trainer Larry Bennese and strength coach Mike MacDonald.

Bromberg, Singleton, Parmelee, Steedley, Lehman and Revere were named to the Midwest League All-Star Game last season while playing for Beloit (Class A-Midwest League).

Bromberg leads the pitching staff with a 5-0 record and a 1.94 ERA (which ranks 4th in the FSL). The Los Angeles native is a former 32nd round pick of the Twins in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. He has allowed only 11 earned runs in 51 innings pitched. Last year he led the Midwest League and organization with 177 strikeouts.

Revere has do ne nothing but excel at the plate since being selected by the Minnesota Twins 28th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He leads the league in batting with a .344 average, has 21 stolen bases and a league-high 65 hits in 49 games. He was awarded the Sherry Robertson Award for Twins Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .379 at Beloit.

Cates might only stand 5-foot-3, but his play in the field and at the plate have made him a standout in the first half of the season. Hitting a career high .265 he has knocked in 15 runs playing regularly as the Miracle’s starting short stop. The University of Louisville alum was a 38th round pick by the Twins in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.

Parmelee is no stranger to the All-Star accolades. The Chino Hills, California product was a AFLAC All-American in high school and a former first round pick of the Twins (2006) in the Major League Baseball Draft. The outfielder/first baseman paces the Miracle with five home runs and 27 RBI. He has hit 42 home runs in his brief professional career.

Singelton, now in his first full season as the Miracle’s second baseman, is hitting .233 with 20 RBI and five triples. The Oakland (Ca.) Bishop O’Dowd High School graduate hit .295 in the second half of the Florida State League season in 2008.

Steedley, a crafty left out of the bullpen, has made an immediate impact in 2009. The 24-year old has kept league opponents perplexed this season with a 0.74 ERA in 19 appearances. He has struck out 25 in 24 1/3 innings.

Lehman can now add Florida State League All-Star to his resume. The Rice University product has been a Cape Cod and Midwest League All-Star in the past three years. The Miracle catcher, recently returned from Double-A New Britain, is hitting .283 over 19 games.

Gutierrez registered a 2-3 record with a league-low 1.32 ERA prompting his promotion.

North All-Star Team members represent Brevard County, Daytona Beach, Tampa, Dunedin, Clearwater and Lakeland. The South All-Star Team represents St. Lucie, Sarasota, Charlotte, Palm Beach, Fort Myers and Jupiter.

The umpires selected for the game are: Travis Carlson- Chief, Matthew Cunningham- 1st Base, Kelvin Bultron- 2nd Base and Joe Hannigan- 3rd Base.

The All-Star Players, Coaches and Umpires will be honored at events during the All-Star Weekend.

All-Star Team selectees, club affiliation and position are:

SOUTH DIVISION ALL-STAR TEAM POSITION

R Jeffrey Allison JUP Pitchers (10)

R David Kopp PMB P

R Matthew Gorgen CHA P

R Alejandro Sanabia JUP P

R David Bromberg FTM P

L Eric Niesen STL P

R Enerio Del Rosario SAR P

L Darin Downs CHA P

L Spencer Steedley FTM P

R Kris Harvey JUP P

Danny Lehman FTM Catchers (3)

Miguel Fermin JUP C

Francisco Pena STL C

Steve Singleton FTM Infielders (5)

Cody Cipriano CHA INF

Reese Havens STL INF

Gregory Sexton CHA INF

Chris Cates FTM INF

Michael Stanton JUP Outfielders (4)

Ben Revere FTM OF

Shane Peterson PMB OF

Kirk Nieuwenhuis STL OF

Chris Parmelee FTM Designated Hitter (1)

Jeff Smith FTM Field Manager

Jim Dwyer FTM Coach

Steve Mintz FTM Coach

Larry Bennese FTM Trainer

Mike MacDonald FTM Strength Coach

NORTH DIVISION ALL-STAR TEAM POSITION

R Jonathan Ortiz TAM Pitchers (10)

R Evan Anundsen BRE P

R Josh Butler BRE P

R Rob Wooten BRE P

R Thad Weber LAK P

R Andrew Hess LAK P

L Yohan Flande CLR P

L Tim Collins DUN P

R Ryan Searle DAY P

R John Axford BRE P

Austin Romine TAM Catchers (3)

Robinson Chirinos DAY C

Tim Kennelly CLR C

Starlin Castro DAY Infielders (5)

Eric Farris BRE INF

Zelous Wheeler BRE INF

Fidel Hernandez CLR INF

Raul Barron DUN INF

Dominic Brown CLR Outfielders (4)

Caleb Gindl BRE OF

Eric Thames DUN OF

Darin Mastroianni DUN OF

Moises Sierra DUN Designated Hitter (1)

Jody Davis DAY Field Manager

Richie Zisk DAY Coach

Tom Pratt DAY Coach

Bob Grimes DAY Trainer

Steve Rassel DAY Strength Coach

The following players were first team selections, but are unavailable due to promotion

to the next higher level:

SOUTH DIVISION NORTH DIVISION

Jenrry Mejia P STL Kyle Drabek P CLR

Brad Holt P STL Daniel Farquhar P DUN

Carlos Gutierrez P FTM Jesus Montero C TAM

Eduardo Sanchez P PMB

Zach Stewart P SAR

Yonder Alonso INF SAR

Nevin Ashley-C- CHA

For Additional Information:

Gary Sharp

Media Relations Director

P: 239.768.4210

F: 239.768.4211

E: gsharp@miraclebaseball.com