It can seem like a long road from Bethel Park to the majors. For Mason Miller, the path there has taken a circuitous route. But a big step in that direction came Monday when he was drafted in the third round by the Oakland Athletics.
A 6-foot-5 right-handed pitcher, Miller played this past season at Gardner-Webb, a Division I program in North Carolina. That followed four seasons at Waynesburg, a Division III school closer to home.
Miller began to open eyes during his junior 2019 season with the Yellowjackets, when he set a school record with 97 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings. This followed a jump in fastball velocity that coincided with added weight that came following a change in diet spurred by a diagnosis of Type I diabetes.
Check out https://t.co/xbLzFSBggi’s coverage of Mason Miller’s selection in the third round of the 2021 @MLBDraft by the @Athletics ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/Is1c7DcVlQ
— Gardner-Webb Baseball (@GWUBaseball) July 12, 2021
Miller had 24 strikeouts in 14 innings in wining both of his 2020 starts for Waynesburg (the season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic). This past season in the Big South Conference, Miller led Gardner-Webb in innings (92 2/3) and had a 3.30 ERA and 121 strikeouts with 30 walks over 14 starts.
According to MLB.com, Miller’s fastball can hit 99 mph and averages 95 mph. He also throws a slider and changeup.
Taken with the 97th overall pick, Miller was rated as the No. 161 overall prospect by MLB.com and No. 236 by Baseball America.
