Miracle places seven on FSL All-Star squad
The Fort Myers Miracle are hosting the 48th annual Florida State League All-Star Game on Saturday, June 20 and are well represented.
The teams were announced last Thursday 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, having previously hosted the gala in 1998, 2001 and 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 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) as of last week. 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 through 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 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.
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.
The South All-Star Team represents Fort Myers, St. Lucie, Sarasota, Charlotte, Palm Beach and Jupiter. North All-Star Team members represent Brevard County, Daytona Beach, Tampa, Dunedin, Clearwater and Lakeland.