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Miracle pitcher David Bromberg, who earned his second All-Star bid in as many Minor League seasons, holds the fourth-lowest ERA (2.22) among active players in the pitching-rich circuit.

And Bromberg now has another accolade to add to the list. He will take the mound first for the South Division in Saturday's game, Fort Myers and South squad manager Jeff Smith announced Thursday. In 12 starts this season, the 21-year-old right-hander has registered a 5-0 record with 62 strikeouts in 69 innings. Bromberg will have to face top hitters from the league's other first-place club, Brevard County, including Caleb Gindl (.282, 8 HR, 38 RBI) and Zelous Wheeler (.234, 5 HR, 31 RBI).

Bromberg will be pitching to his battery-mate, Danny Lehman, one of three backstops elected to the South roster. The Miracle ace will also have a familiar defense behind him, including teammates Steve Singleton (.251, 3 HR, 28 RBI) at shortstop and Chris Cates (.273, 0 HR, 17 RBI) at second base. Speedy outfielder Ben Revere (.325, 1 HR, 26 RBI) and DH Chris Parmelee (.246, 8 HR, 43 RBI) are also among the Fort Myers contingent playing for the South.

Evan Anundsen (7-4, 1.84), who's pacing the circuit in wins and ERA among active players, will get the ball for the North Division team. Anundsen is a member of Brevard County's league-leading staff (2.50 team ERA), and four Manatees are among the North's nine pitchers.

Swing Away
Some of league's best long-hitters will face off once again to see who will take the 2009 Home Run Derby. The North and South Divisions will each contribute four hitters to the competition, which will take place at Hammond Stadium on Saturday before the All-Star Game.

Robinson Chirinos, the active league home run leader (10), leads the North squad. The Daytona catcher is currently slugging an impressive .686 with just 19 strikeouts in 122 plate appearances this season.

Hometown favorite Parmelee, tied for fifth in the league with eight roundtrippers in his first year of full-season professional baseball, will represent the Miracle among the South sluggers.

St. Lucie's Kirk Nieuwenhuis, tied for fourth in the league with nine home runs, is also scheduled to participate for the South, along with teammate Carlos Guzman, who has seven home runs on the season.

Representing Charlotte, Cody Cipriano will join the pair of Mets, filling out the South roster. Cipriano is hitting .313 on the season with five home runs.

Tampa catcher Austin Romine and Gindl, who both stand at eight home runs, will join Chirinos in trying to bring home the title for the North. Romine has 40 RBIs on the season, first among active players, while Gindl is tied for fourth with 38 runs driven in.

Clearwater's Tim Kennelly will round out the North's corps of sluggers swinging for the fences. The Threshers third baseman is hitting .315 with three homers and 33 RBIs.

The Derby, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, will feature a traditional playoff system in which the participants who've accumulated the most home runs will advance. The home run count for the four players moving on to the second round will carry over, while the tally for the final round will be reset to zero.

Special Guests
Military fathers will throw out the first pitch before Saturday night's 48th Florida State League All-Star Game, the league announced Thursday.

Acknowledging Father's Day, as well as the Armed Forces, a member of each branch of the military will throw out a ceremonial first pitch to his son or daughter prior to the contest.

In addition, the weekend's festivities will be highlighted by the appearance of baseball executive Roland Hemond. The 58-year veteran of professional baseball will address players and league personnel.

Hemond has been awarded Major League Baseball's "Executive of the Year" Award three times and in 2001 was named "King of Baseball" by Minor League Baseball. The longtime White Sox general manger is currently the president of the Association of Professional Ballplayers of America (APBPA), which aids current and former ballplayers in need.

Bailey Stephens is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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