Hometown Miracle Place Seven On Team For June 20th Game
FORT MYERS, FL (June 4, 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 leagues mid-season showcase for the fourth time (1998, 2001, 2003).
The South Division squad is highlighted by pitchers David Bromberg, Spencer Steedley, catcher Danny Lehmann, infielders Chris Cates and Steve Singleton. Outfielder Ben Revere and Chris Parmelee 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 years seven that participated in Brevard County.
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, Lehmann 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 done 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 Miracles 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.
Singleton, now in his first full season as the Miracles second baseman, is hitting .233 with 20 RBI and five triples. The Oakland (Ca.) Bishop ODowd High School graduate hit .295 in the second half of the Florida State League season in 2008.
Steedley, a crafty lefty 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.
Lehmann 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
Pitchers (10)
R - Jeffrey Allison - JUP
R - David Kopp - PMB
R - Matthew Gorgen - CHA
R - Alejandro Sanabia - JUP
R - David Bromberg - FTM
L - Eric Niesen - STL
R - Enerio Del Rosario - SAR
L - Darin Downs - CHA
L - Spencer Steedley - FTM
R - Kris Harvey - JUP
Catchers (3)
Danny Lehmann - FTM
Miguel Fermin - JUP
Francisco Pena - STL
Infielders (5)
Steve Singleton - FTM
Cody Cipriano - CHA
Reese Havens - STL
Gregory Sexton - CHA
Chris Cates - FTM
Outfielders (4)
Michael Stanton - JUP
Ben Revere - FTM
Shane Peterson - PMB
Kirk Nieuwenhuis - STL
Designated Hitter (1)
Chris Parmelee - FTM
Coaching Staff (5)
Jeff Smith - FTM - Field Manager
Jim Dwyer - FTM - Coach
Steve Mintz - FTM - Pitching Coach
Larry Bennese - FTM - Trainer
Mike MacDonald - FTM - Strength Coach
NORTH DIVISION ALL-STAR TEAM
Pitchers (10)
R - Jonathan Ortiz - TAM
R - Evan Anundsen - BRE
R - Josh Butler - BRE
R - Rob Wooten - BRE
R - Thad Weber - LAK
R - Andrew Hess - LAK
L - Yohan Flande - CLR
L - Tim Collins - DUN
R - Ryan Searle - DAY
R - John Axford - BRE
Catchers (3)
Austin Romine - TAM
Robinson Chirinos - DAY
Tim Kennelly - CLR
Infielders (5)
Starlin Castro - DAY
Eric Farris - BRE
Zelous Wheeler - BRE
Fidel Hernandez - CLR
Raul Barron - DUN
Outfielders (4)
Dominic Brown - CLR
Caleb Gindl - BRE
Eric Thames - DUN
Darin Mastroianni - DUN
Designated Hitter (1)
Moises Sierra - DUN
Coaching Staff (5)
Jody Davis - DAY - Field Manager
Richie Zisk - DAY - Coach
Tom Pratt - DAY - Pitching 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
Jenrry Mejia P STL
Brad Holt P STL
Carlos Gutierrez P FTM
Eduardo Sanchez P PMB
Zach Stewart P SAR
Yonder Alonso INF SAR
Nevin Ashley-C- CHA
NORTH DIVISION
Kyle Drabek P CLR
Daniel Farquhar P DUN
Jesus Montero C TAM |