MIAMI -- Dontrelle Willis is an All-Star after all.

	Willis

The rookie left-hander for the Florida Marlins, left off the National League's roster when the team was announced earlier this week, was selected Friday as an injury replacement for Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Kevin Brown.

"It hasn't really hit me yet,'' Willis said before Florida's game against Montreal. "It's an honor. I feel like I was picked right off the bat. I can't really explain how it feels. I'm honored to play with the best in the world. I'll just try to have fun.''

The move ends a debate over whether Willis was snubbed by Chicago's Dusty Baker, who will manage the NL team this year. Baker originally left Willis off the squad in favor of his own Kerry Wood.

Wood is 9-6 with a 3.19 ERA, while Willis is 8-1 with a 1.98 ERA.

At the time, Baker said he left Willis off the team because he had never seen him pitch.

"I'm not at all surprised,'' Marlins manager Jack McKeon said. "I'm happy for the young man. He certainly deserves it. Baseball has made a wise decision, putting on a good young pitcher with lots of charisma.''

Willis, who has drawn comparisons to Fernando Valenzuela and Juan Marichal for his unorthodox windup, has been the Marlins' ace since being called up from Double-A Carolina on May 9 to fill a hole in their injury-depleted rotation

Willis is unbeaten in his last nine starts with an 0.85 ERA.

"He's an example to all the players in Double-A and Triple-A to show them that hard work and dedication can pay off,'' McKeon said.