The Seattle Mariners have called up right-handed pitcher Bryce Miller in time to start Tuesday-evening against the Oakland A’s.
Miller, 24, entered the 2023 season in third place the Mariners’ list of top prospects, according to our in-house expert RJ Anderson. Here’s the writing:
“A fourth-round pick in 2021, Miller looks like a major development win for the Mariners. He has increased his speed and tweaked his mechanics since turning pro, to the extent that he threw significantly more bouts than at Texas A&M. To tie some stats to that last statement, he walked about three batters last season, versus more than five per nine in his last season with the Aggies Oh, and he did that while hitting more than 30 percent of the batters he hit. faced on three levels. Miller’s future depends on the durability of his command wins. He could become an above-average starter if they stay, or he could be a high-octane reliever if they don’t. Either way, please tip him and the Seattle scouting and development staff for a job well done.”
This season at the Double-A level, Miller struggled to avoid runs, as he pitched to a 6.41 ERA with five home runs allowed in 19 2/3 innings. However, he looked much better on the command-and-control level with 18 strikeouts against only three walks over those four starts. He also looked strong during spring training. For his minor league career, Miller has a 3.65 ERA and a 3.84 K/BB ratio over parts of three seasons as a pro. The A’s, who currently rank ninth in the American League in OPS and twelfth in runs scored, ensuring a soft landing in the majors for Miller.
Miller’s promotion and likely presence in the rotation going forward is a result of injuries and ineffectiveness in Seattle. The team recently lost to Robbie Ray for the season after undergoing surgery to address a flexor strain in his throwing arm. Right-hander Easton McGee, who flirted with a no-hitter in his first MLB start, landed on the injured list this weekend with a forearm strain. Chris Flexen also struggled badly during a four-start stint in the rotation, all of which left the Mariners in need of reinforcements. So enter Miller.
The Mariners welcome Miller’s debut with a disappointing 12-16 record and fourth in the AL West. Last season, they broke a long playoff drought with 90 wins and an AL wild card berth in the postseason.