Adam Miller (minors01)

Adam Wayne Miller

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 4", Weight 200 lb.
• High School McKinney High School

• Born November 26, 1984 in Plano, TX USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Adam Miller was a New York Yankees farmhand.

Miller was a top high school pitcher. In 2003, he went 10-2 with 4 saves and a 0.49 ERA. In 86 innings, he allowed 48 hits and 1 6 walks while striking out 128. He joined Jeff Manship, Wade LeBlanc, Justin Cassel and Jeff Allison in being named to the Baseball America first-team high school All-American pitching staff. The Cleveland Indians drafted Miller with their third first-round pick of the 2003 amateur draft, following Michael Aubrey and Brad Snyder. Miller's selection was a supplemental pick, compensation for the loss of Jim Thome to free agency. Miller was signed by scout Matt Ruebel for a $1,025,000 bonus.

Miller made his pro debut with the Burlington Indians, going 0-4 with a 4.96 ERA. Despite the unimpressive statistics, Baseball America rated him the top prospect in the Appalachian League, right ahead of Chris Young.

Miller did a fine job with the 2004 Lake County Captains (7-4, 3.36, 106 K in 91 IP) and Kinston Indians (3-2, 2.08, .192 opponent average, 46 K in 43 1/3 IP). He led Indians minor leaguers in strikeouts. With Kinston behind 2 games to 1 to the Wilmington Blue Rocks in the Carolina League finals, Miller shut out Wilmington in Game Four, twice hitting 100 mph on the radar gun. Baseball America rated him as the #4 prospect in the South Atlantic League after Delmon Young, Ian Stewart and Lastings Milledge. He was ranked the #4 right-handed starting pitching prospect in the minor leagues after Felix Hernandez, Matt Cain and Chad Billingsley.

An elbow injury in spring training badly hampered Miller in 2005. He did not pitch in a game until late June, when he joined the Mahoning Valley Scrappers; he had a 5.06 ERA and allowed 17 hits in 10 2/3 innings before returning to Kinston. He was only 2-4 with a 4.83 ERA and .318 opponent average for Kinston. In the Carolina League finals, he again won game four to face a 5th contest, but the Indians lost it this time. Baseball America still rated him the league's 4th-best prospect after Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Nick Markakis and Anibal Sanchez and right ahead of Gio Gonzalez and Jeremy Sowers. The publication also rated him as Cleveland's top prospect. In the Arizona Fall League, Adam was 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA for the Mesa Solar Sox.

Miller dazzled in 2006, going 15-6 with a 2.75 ERA for the Akron Aeros. Opponents hit just .228 and he struck out 157 in 153 2/3 innings. He also pitched one game (5.79 ERA) for the Buffalo Bisons. Miller was initially named to appear in the 2006 Futures Game but missed due to injury; Nick Pereira took his spot on the Team USA roster. He led Indians minor leaguers in strikeouts and tied for 6th in the affiliated minors in victories. He led the Eastern League in wins, was second to Philip Hughes in ERA and third in strikeouts, behind Tyler Clippard and Gio Gonzalez. Miller was named the EL All-Star right-handed pitcher and the league's Pitcher of the Year. He struggled in game one of the finals, allowing 4 runs in 3 innings. The Indians then decided to rest Miller, so they had to use a different hurler in the deciding game five, which they lost. Baseball America rated him the EL's #4 prospect after Hughes, Matt Garza and Mike Pelfrey and right ahead of two other Adams, Adam Loewen and Adam Lind.

Miller battled finger injuries in 2007, with a 5-4, 4.82 record for Buffalo when healthy. He struck out 68 in 65 1/3 innings. He was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in the 2007 Arizona Fall League. Baseball America ranked him as the #11 prospect in the International League, between Joey Votto and Garrett Olson.

Miller started 2008 well with Buffalo, going 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA in six starts before his old finger injury resurfaced and he had surgery. It was unclear if he would return later in the season.

Sources

• 2003-2008 Baseball Almanacs
• 2008 Indians Media Guide

Notable Achievements

• 2006 Pitcher of the Year Eastern League Akron Aeros