PD Column On Adam Miller

[swerb]

Good column from this mornings PD on prized Tribe prospect Adam Miller.

The kid struggled last year after overcoming an arm injury, but appears to be back on track, and is set to start the year at AAA. He will likely be expected to compete for a rotation spot next spring.

Dying to see this kid pitch in person ... a roadie to Akron will be in the cards for me some time this spring.

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/plaindea ... xml&coll=2

Health first, then the heater

Tribe taking it easy on prized prospect Miller's power arm

Friday, January 20, 2006
Burt Graeff
Plain Dealer Reporter

The baseball does not explode out of the right hand of Adam Miller as it once did. He's not complaining.

He's pitching.

"I'm almost back to normal," said Miller, the Indians' top pitching prospect who was sidelined for the first 2½ months of last season with a slight tear of the right elbow. Surgery wasn't necessary.

The tear occurred near the end of spring training. "I was shocked," he said. "All power pitchers have arm issues at some time, but I didn't see this coming at all."

Power is the name of the game for Miller, a 6-4, 185-pounder from McKinney, Texas, who was the Tribe's sandwich pick (31st overall) of the 2003 draft. In the 2004 Carolina League playoffs, a Miller fastball was clocked at 101 mph.

It's apparent Miller, 21, has not completely recovered. In two starts at short-season Class A Mahoning Valley last season, he was 0-0 with a 5.06 ERA. In 10 2/3 innings, he struck out six and walked four. Opposing batters hit .405.

Promoted to Class A Kinston, N.C., he made 12 starts -- going 2-4 with a 4.83 ERA in 59 2/3 innings. He stuck out 45, walked 17 and allowed opposing hitters to bat .318.

"Last season wasn't great for me," said Miller, one of numerous prospects participating in the Tribe's winter development program at Jacobs Field and Case Western Reserve University, "but I did get better toward the end. I never really got a feel for a second pitch."

Miller did show signs of regained arm strength, hitting 96 mph in the Carolina League playoffs while demonstrating a good-looking slider and improved change-up.

Subsequently pitching six games in the Arizona Fall League, he was 1-1 (5.68 ERA) while striking out 18 and walking five in 25 1/3 innings.

Pitchers drafted directly out of high school generally need more time to reach the big leagues than those coming from college. The Indians' front office is not overly concerned with Miller's bump in the road.

He's ticketed to begin the season at Class AA Akron.

"Adam is progressing on a throwing program," said Tribe director of player development John Farrell. "He will go into spring training ready to compete.

"We think he responded well in the [Arizona] Fall League. He's on a solid, progressive path - especially for someone 21 years old."

Farrell said it's not out of the question that Miller could be pitching at Class AAA Buffalo at some point this season.

[consigliere]

Reportedly, Miller is 100% healthy. He is still the prized #1 prospect, even after his down year and Sowers great season in 2005.

Speaking of Sowers, a nice article today on Indians.com:

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/NASApp ... p&c_id=cle

[Steve Buffum]

How does one respond to a message directly?

You may say DIACF, but I say TINSTAAPP: let's let Miller's arm stay attached for three consecutive seasons before getting excited.

[swerb]

Buff, by hitting the "quote" button within that post.