Andrew Miller (baseball)

Andrew Miller

Miller with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees – No. 48
Relief pitcher
Born: (1985-05-21) May 21, 1985
Gainesville, Florida
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 30, 2006, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through April 19, 2016)
Win–loss record 33–40
Earned run average 4.55
Strikeouts 603
Saves 40
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Andrew Mark Miller (born May 21, 1985) is an American professional baseball relief pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles.

Miller played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and was the Baseball America National Player of the Year and Roger Clemens Award winner in 2006. The Tigers chose him sixth overall in the 2006 MLB Draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2006. The Tigers traded Miller to Florida after the 2007 season, and traded to Boston after the 2010 season. With the Red Sox, Miller became a relief pitcher, and began to have sustained success in MLB. The Red Sox traded Miller to the Orioles in 2014, and Miller signed with the Yankees after the season.

College

After graduating from Buchholz High School in Gainesville, Florida, Miller attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While pitching for the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team, Miller set the Carolina single season (133) and career strikeout records (325). He was also third in Tar Heels' history with 27 wins and fourth in total innings pitched with 309. He was named Baseball America National Player of the Year and Roger Clemens Award winner as the nation's top collegiate pitcher. He was also named to the first team All-America for Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America, NCBWA and Rivals.com

In the summer of 2005 Miller pitched for the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod Baseball League where he was named the College Summer Player of the Year by Baseball America and rated as the No. 1 prospect in the Cape League by the publication.

Miller was selected as a finalist in 2006 for the Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball.

On January 30, 2016, UNC recognized him for all his accomplishments during his time at UNC. During the halftime of UNC versus Boston College, they retired his #33.

Professional career

Minor Leagues

Though Miller was considered a possible first overall selection in the 2006 MLB Draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Luke Hochevar with the pick.[1] The Detroit Tigers selected Miller with the sixth overall selection of the draft.[2] They agreed to a contract with a guaranteed value of $5.45 million and a signing bonus of $3.55 million on August 4, 2006. Miller made his professional debut on August 20, 2006, with the Lakeland Tigers of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League. His stint with Lakeland lasted less than a week, as he pitched his third and final outing six days later. After five scoreless innings in three outings, he was called up to the Major Leagues. Miller also played for the Erie Seawolves of the Class AA Eastern League.

Detroit Tigers

Miller made his major league debut on August 30, 2006 against the New York Yankees, pitching one scoreless inning and allowing only one baserunner on a hit by pitch. In 8 games, Miller posted a 0-1 record with a 6.10 ERA. The Tigers would advance to the postseason but lose to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2006 World Series.

While Miller did not make the opening day roster for the Tigers in 2007, he made his first major league start May 18, 2007 versus the St. Louis Cardinals in place of injured starter Jeremy Bonderman. Miller earned his first major league victory in his season debut, pitching 6 scoreless innings and giving up 4 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2. Miller showed his full potential in this game, but he was sent back to the minors as Bonderman recovered from injury. Miller was later recalled while Nate Robertson was sent to the disabled list with arm fatigue. He earned a 15-7 victory over the New York Mets behind another superb offensive backing by his teammates. Miller's best game pitched in 2007 was a six inning performance in Atlanta allowing 4 hits and no runs while also striking out two batters and walking two ending in a 5-0 Tigers victory. Miller made 13 starts in 2007 going 5-5 with a 5.63 ERA.

Miller at Florida Marlins spring training 2010

Florida Marlins

On December 5, 2007, the Tigers traded Miller, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo, Dallas Trahern, Eulogio de la Cruz and Burke Badenhop to the Florida Marlins for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera.[3]

In 2008, Miller appeared in 29 games (started 20) going 6-10 with a 5.87 ERA.

Miller injured his oblique muscle in 2009. On May 16, 2009, Florida activated the left-hander off the disabled list. He made 20 appearances (14 starts) in 2009 going 3-5 with a 4.84 ERA.

During Spring Training in 2010, the Florida Marlins announced that Miller would be assigned to their Triple-A minor league team, the New Orleans Zephyrs to open the 2010 season. He was called up to the Major League club on August 18. Miller finished the 2010 year 1-5 with a 8.54 ERA in 9 games (7 starts).

Boston Red Sox

Miller pitching for the Boston Red Sox in 2011

On November 12, 2010, Andrew Miller was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for relief pitcher Dustin Richardson.[4] He was non-tendered less than a month later, and re-signed with the club on December 16, 2010.[5] During 2011 spring training, Miller was optioned to minor league camp and it was announced that he would begin the year as a starting pitcher with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.[6]

On June 19, 2011, Miller had his contract purchased by Boston. The Red Sox won the first four games that Miller started, and Miller was credited as the winning pitcher in three of them. His first loss of the 2011 season came on July 15, as the Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Red Sox at Tropicana Field. He was pulled after 2 2⁄3 innings, having already given up seven runs on five hits, including a grand slam to Ben Zobrist.[7] He finished the 2011 year 6-3 with a 5.54 ERA in 17 games (12 starts).

Miller began the 2012 season in the minors, recovering from an injury. When he was called up to the majors, the Red Sox moved him to the bullpen.[8] He finished 2012 with a 3-2 record and a 3.35 ERA in 53 appearances.

On July 6, 2013, Miller suffered a foot injury and left the game. An MRI revealed that there were torn ligaments in the lisfranc zone of his foot. As a result, Miller missed the remainder of the 2013 season. He finished the 2013 season 1-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 37 games. Despite his year-ending absence, the Red Sox went on to win the 2013 World Series giving Miller his first career championship ring.

Miller started the 2014 season with the Red Sox by making 50 appearances going 3-5 with a 2.34 ERA.

Miller pitching for the Baltimore Orioles in 2014

Baltimore Orioles

On July 31, 2014, Miller was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor-league pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.[9] On September 16, 2014, the Orioles clinched their first American League East title in 17 years. Miller faced 2 batters in that game and struck them both out, bringing his ERA with the Orioles down to 1.04.
In 23 appearances, Miller finished 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA. Overall in 2014, combined with both teams, Miller made 73 total appearances going 5-5 with a 2.02 ERA and 103 strikeouts. During the Orioles' 2014 ALDS sweep of the Detroit Tigers, Miller earned a hold in two of the Orioles victories. He pitched a total of 3 and a third innings of no hit and no run baseball while striking out 3 Tigers batters.[10]

New York Yankees

On December 5, 2014, Miller reached an agreement on a contract with the New York Yankees on a four-year deal worth $36 million.[11] Before the 2015 season, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced that Miller and Dellin Betances would split the closing job to begin the season.[12] He began the season pitching 17 2⁄3 innings of scoreless ball,[13] recording his first save in a Yankee uniform on April 8, 2015.[14] On April 27, he became the first Yankee to have 8 saves in a 20-game span.[15]

Miller finished the season with a 2.04 ERA, 36 saves, and 100 strikeouts in 61 2⁄3 innings pitched. He won the 2015 American League Relief Pitcher of the Year Award.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Royals tab Hochevar as No. 1 pick". Major League Baseball. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Yankees agree to $36M deal with former Tiger Andrew Miller". Detroit Free Press. December 5, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  3. ↑ Passan, Jeff (December 4, 2007). "Cabrera, Willis dealt to Tigers". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved December 14, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Red Sox acquire lefty Miller for Richardson". Major League Baseball. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  5. ↑ Abraham, Peter (December 3, 2010). "Okajima, T. Buchholz, Miller non-tendered". The Boston Globe.
  6. ↑ WHY ANDREW MILLER WILL BE STARTING IN THE MINORS WEEI.com, March 25, 2011
  7. ↑ "Ben Zobrist's grand slam helps Rays end Red Sox's winning streak". Associated Press (ESPN). July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 21, 2011.
  8. ↑ Morais, Didier. "Padilla, Miller are Bullpen's Unsung Heroes". NESN.
  9. ↑ Baltimore Sun (July 31, 2014). "Orioles acquire LHP Andrew Miller from Red Sox for prospect Eduardo Rodriguez". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Andrew Miller". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Andrew Miller has deal with New York Yankees - ESPN New York". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Yankees go from greatest closer of all time to none at all". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  13. ↑ Marchand, Andrew. "Rapid Reaction: Nationals 8, Yankees 6 (10 innings)". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Yankees' Andrew Miller picks up first save of season". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  15. ↑ Knobler, Danny. "Miller gets 8 saves in 20 games". yankees.MLB.com. MLB.com. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Yankees' closer Andrew Miller wins AL Reliever of the Year Award". NJ.com. Retrieved October 28, 2015.

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