Adam Miller

WTM’S PIRATE PLAYER PROFILES

2003
R+:  0-4-0, 4.96 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 32.2 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

Miller had a better year in his debut than his ERA indicated.  That’s especially true considering that he was a high school draftee pitching in an advanced rookie league.

2004
A:  7-4-0, 3.36 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 91.0 IP, 2.8 BB/9, 10.5 K/9
A+:  3-2-0, 2.08 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 43.1 IP, 2.5 BB/9, 9.6 K/9

Miller had a breakout season, dominating both class A levels at age 19.  He fanned over a batter an inning and posted a low walk rate, while pitching even better after his promotion to the higher level.  In the Carolina League playoffs, he threw 14 scoreless innings and hit 101 mph with his fastball.  After the season, Baseball America rated him the Indians’ top prospect, a spot he held for four years.  BA also rated him the 16th best prospect in baseball.

2005
A-:  0-0-0, 5.06 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, 10.2 IP, 3.4 BB/9, 5.1 K/9
A+:  2-4-0, 4.83 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 59.2 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

The Indians shut Miller down in spring training with a strained elbow ligament.  He didn’t join their NYPL affiliate until late June, showing reduced velocity through season’s end.  He didn’t pitch well in his limited time, but at least stayed healthy.

2006
AA:  15-6-0, 2.75 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 158.1 IP, 2.6 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 5.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 4.2 IP, 5.8 BB/9, 7.7 K/9

Miller bounced back with a big season in AA, with his fastball back in the 93-95 range.  BA ranked him the 23rd best prospect in baseball after the season.

2007
AAA:  5-4-0, 4.82 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 65.1 IP, 2.9 BB/9, 9.4 K/9

Miller’s season was derailed by continuing elbow issues and the first appearance of the finger problem that would prove the bigger issue.  He ultimately had several surgeries on the finger in 2007 and 2008.  When he was able to pitch in 2007, he wasn’t as effective as usual but at least maintained excellent walk and K rates.  BA still rated him baseball’s 29th best prospect after the season.

2008
AAA:  0-1-0, 1.88 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 28.2 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

Miller’s season ended in May, after six starts, due to another surgery on his finger.  BA still ranked him 82nd on its top 100 prospects list.

2009
INJURED

Miller seemed to be doing well in spring training and was considered a candidate for the Indians’ bullpen, but the finger issues reappeared and he had reconstructive surgery in April, as well as another operation in July.  The surgeries kept him out all year.  Cleveland removed him from its 40-man roster in the off-season and re-signed him to a minor league contract.

2010
INJURED

Miller suffered a setback and had to have another operation on the finger in December.  That kept him out for the 2010 season.

2011
A+:  0-1-1, 4.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 4.1 BB/9, 11.5 K/9
AA:  1-4-1, 6.27 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 33.0 IP, 4.4 BB/9, 6.8 K/9

Miller joined the Indians’ high A affiliate at the end of April and pitched out of the bullpen there and in AA.  He continued striking out a lot of batters in class A, but his control was much weaker than previously and he was generally ineffective in AA.  He became a free agent after the season and signed with the Yankees.

2012
IND:  2-2-0, 4.76 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 17.0 IP, 4.2 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AA:  0-3-0, 5.08 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, 39.0 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 3.2 K/9
AAA:  0-1-0, 4.50 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 10.0 IP, 3.6 BB/9, 3.6 K/9

The Yankees tried Miller for five games in the bullpen in AAA, then sent him to AA for eight starts.  He was ineffective in both roles, with a nearly non-existent K rate.  New York released him in late June and he caught on in the independent American Association, where he bounced back only a little.

2013
IND:  4-4-1, 4.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 62.0 IP, 3.8 BB/9, 5.2 K/9

Miller spent the season in the independent Atlantic League.  He was mostly a reliever, but also made five starts.

2014
AA:  1-2-0, 5.44 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 3.0 BB/9, 9.4 K/9
AAA:  0-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9

The Indians signed Miller to a minor league deal during spring training.  Beginning in mid-May, he pitched out of the AA bullpen, except for one inning in AAA.  Despite the high ERA, he pitched reasonably well, with his walk and K rates returning to previous levels.

2015
R:  1-0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 3.0 IP, 0.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9
AA:  0-0-0, 9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, 1.0 IP, 9.0 BB/9, 18.0 K/9
AAA:  0-2-0, 4.30 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 23.0 IP, 3.1 BB/9, 6.3 K/9

The Pirates sent Miller to Indianapolis to pitch out of the bullpen

The odds of Miller bouncing back and reaching the majors are obviously very long, but he should be an interesting project for the Pirates.  He’ll be in the bullpen with Indianapolis to start the 2015 season.  He missed about a month from mid-April to mid-May, then went on the disabled list in late May.  He returned in August only to miss two more weeks with an ankle injury.  When he was able to pitch, Miller wasn’t that effective.

Miller will be a free agent again after the season.