According to Baseball America, the Pittsburgh Pirates have signed right-handed pitcher Adam Miller to a minor league contract. He was once a highly touted prospect, although he was drafted in 2003 and has not pitched in the majors yet. The 30-year-old Miller spent 2014 in the Cleveland Indians farm system, where he had a 5.44 ERA in 28 relief appearances for AA Akron. He also pitched one scoreless inning in AAA. He had 45 strikeouts in 42.1 innings while posting an impressive 1.73 GO/AO ratio.
Miller was a first round draft pick of the Indians in 2003, taken 31st overall. He was ranked among Baseball America’s top 100 prospects five years in a row, starting in 2005, when they had him 16th overall. His career was derailed by a finger injury on his throwing hand, which required numerous surgeries and cost him most of 2008 and all of 2009-10. Prior to the injury, Miller had hit 101 MPH with his fastball and his slider was one of the best in the minors.
He looks to be minor league depth and could see time at either Altoona or Indianapolis, likely in a relief role since he hasn’t started full-time since 2008.
