Andrew Miller

At 39 years old, Andrew Miller has this physical status:

Andrew Mark Miller (born May 21, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball (MLB).

He previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians.

Primarily a starting pitcher who struggled early in his major league career, Miller found sustained success as a reliever utilizing multiple-faceted fastball and slider approach that has proven deceptive for batters to hit.

A left-handed batter and thrower, Miller stands 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall and weighs 205 pounds (93 kg). Instrumental in the Indians' World Series run in 2016, Miller earned the American League (AL) Championship Series Most Valuable Player (ALCS MVP) honors, while setting a number of postseason strikeout records for relievers and covering multiple relief roles and innings.

He is also a two-time MLB All-Star selection, and a winner of the AL Reliever of the Year Award.

In 2017, he earned his first major championship in the World Baseball Classic as a member of the United States national team.

His collegiate baseball awards include the Baseball America College Player of the Year and Roger Clemens Awards. A native of Gainesville, Florida, Miller attended the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill, playing for the UNC Tar Heels.

The Detroit Tigers selected him sixth overall in the 2006 amateur draft, and he made his major league debut that same season after three minor league appearances.

After commencing his career in MLB with a 5.70 earned run average (ERA) over 66 starts with Detroit and Florida, he converted to full-time relief in 2012 with Boston, and has since served in middle relief, setup and closer roles.

The Red Sox traded Miller to the Orioles in 2014, and Miller signed as a free agent with the Yankees after the season.

The Yankees traded Miller to the Indians during the 2016 season.

He has pitched in four playoffs, including with Baltimore, New York and Cleveland. Miller is the American League representative of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

Early life

Andrew Mark Miller was born to David Miller, an accountant and real estate developer, and Kim Miller, a pediatric nurse practitioner, in Gainesville, Florida. His uncle, Dan Miller, is a former NFL and USFL placekicker who played college football at the University of Miami.

Miller pitched for, and graduated from, Buchholz High School in Gainesville. As a junior, he was a choice for third-team all-state. For his senior year, he was the Florida baseball Gatorade Player of the Year, a selection for both pre-season and post-season All-America honors and first-team all-state.

Personal life

Andrew Miller is married to Katie (née Roark) Miller, who is also from Gainesville, Florida, where they met. Roark attended Duke University and was a four-year letter recipient in soccer for the Blue Devils. As of 2014, the Millers resided in Tampa, Florida. They have a son who was born in 2012.

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Amateur career

Miller, a Buchholz grad, attended the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill and majored in Business Administration. He pitched for the Tar Heels baseball team, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Miller made his college debut as a starting pitcher against Gardner-Webb on February 25, throwing six shutout innings. He struggled with control early on in the California series, but was selected for the weekend rotation on March 14. He struck out a season-best 11 batters against then No. 6 on May 16, while still allowing three hits in eight shutout innings. 2 Miami - 2nd. In the ACC Tournament, he gave up two runs and struck out seven runs in his first complete game.

Miller's record in 15 starts and three relief appearances in 2004 (WL), 2.93 earned run average (ERA), 88 strikeouts in 89 innings, and a.202 batting average against (BAA). With 8.90 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched, he led the ACC in batting average against, and ranked third in the league and fifth in the era (K/9). He coached Tar Heel starters in ERA and he was the team's strikeouts leader. He was named second-team All-ACC honors and second team All-Freshman of Baseball America.

Miller won his first seven decisions of 2005 after giving up three earned runs in his first seven starts. In his first three starts, all victories over Appalachian State, UNC Wilmington, and Birmingham–Southern were won by just one earned run. On February 28, he was selected as the ACC Pitcher of the Week for the week. Miller had a career-high 12 batters in a no-decision over Arizona State on March 4. On two occasions, he carried no-hitters into the sixth inning, twice against Birmingham–Southern and Clemson. On April 1, he tied for the first time in NCAA division I by hitting seven batters against Virginia. In the NCAA Regional in Gainesville, Miller pitched in tournament losses both to Wake Forest and Florida.

Miller, who hit out in 16 starts, has earned an 8-0 record, 104 strikeouts,.232 BAA, 9.68 K/9, 19 hits batters, and 8 runs on bases. The strikeout total was ranked as the seventh-highest in Tar Heel history, and the most since 1995. He was the ACC's highest strikeouts per nine innings and seventh in ERA. Miller received second-team All-ACC recognition for the second straight season.

Miller, the Tar Heels' third starter, fought Seton Hall on February 19, 2006, recording six shutout innings for his career and his third stint in the league. On February 26, (11 strikeouts) and Purdue (10) strikeouts), he reached double-figure strikeouts totals in victories over George Washington (11 strikeouts) and Purdue on March 5 (two strikeouts). In seven shutout innings against the then No. 27, he struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven shutout innings. On March 24, Georgia Tech earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors for the week that ended March 27. He held No. 31 on March 31, no. 31. On four hits over seven innings, striking out nine out nine runs, 1 Florida State is scoreless on four hits over seven innings. For the second week in a row, he was named ACC Pitcher of the Week.

In his victory over Boston College on May 18, Miller took up two runs over eight innings to become Carolina's first 11-game winner since 1995. For the third time this year, he beat out 11 Eagle batters to set the school's strikeout record and earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors on May 22. He was 5–1 in six regular starts against nationally ranked opponents, with a 1.27 ERA. In ACC regular season play, Miller was credited with an 8–1 W–L and 1.94 ERA.

Miller made his first tournament appearance against No. 10 in his first College World Series tournament. In a no-decision, Cal State Fullerton defeated nine out nine wickets in 7+13 innings. In the Tar Heels' second victory over the Titans, his first attempt at his career was made. Miller won his first game in the postseason after allowing four runs with six strikeouts in eight innings against Winthrop on June 3. On June 9, the Tuscaloosa Super Regional defeated No. 9 in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional Championships. He struck out 11, walked one, and allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings in four innings.

For the three-game College World Series championship, the Tar Heels finished runners-up to Oregon State. Miller started Game 1 and allowed three runs and struck out five runs in five innings. Miller relieved future Boston Red Sox teammate Daniel Bard with three runners on base, including the go-ahead and series-deciding run in Bill Rowe on third base in the final game of the three-game series. Miller induced pinch hitter Ryan Gipson to hit a ground ball for the first time. Bryan Steed fielded and threw wide of first baseman Tim Federowicz, allowing Rowe to score and award Oregon State the trophy.

Miller allowed 12 extra base hits in his rookie year in 2006, resulting in a 13.48 ERA, 133 strikeouts, and a.222 BAA in 123+1/3 innings. He was the first Tar Heel to win 13 games since 1978. He struck out at least ten batters in five games.

A number of awards followed Miller's success in 2006, including Baseball America's College Player of the Year and the National College Player of the Year as the country's best collegiate pitcher. The ACC named him as the Year's Best Pitcher. Collegiate Baseball, Baseball America, NCBWA, and Rivals.com selected him to be on the rosters of All-America first teams. Miller was also selected as a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award by USA Baseball in 2006, which was won by Tim Lincecum.

Both single season (133 in 2006) and career (325), Miller set Carolina strikeout records for both single season (133 in 2006) and career (325). With 27 victories and fourth in total innings pitched with 309, he also ranked third in Tar Heels' history. In nine games in his career, he reached double figures in strikeouts.

UNC recognized Miller's career during the halftime of a men's basketball game against Boston College, and he retired his uniform number 33. He was the third Tar Heel baseball obnoxious to be so publicly acknowledged, following Dave Lemonds and B. J. Surhoff.

Miller pitched for the Chatham A's in the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2004 and 2005 (CCBL). He struck out 12 batters, including former Red Sox teammate Jacoby Ellsbury, in a four-inning game against the Falmouth Commodores in July 2004. As Miller's slider was striking the back of several hitters as they swung at strike three and missed, controversies arose over whether they were really struck by the strike or were out on strike. However, the game's accomplishments were not counted because five innings would have to have been completed in order for it to be entered as an official record. Miller pitched one inning and struck out all three batters he faced in the CCBL All-Star Game this summer. He had 48 strikeouts in 40 innings, 2–0 W–L, and a 2.03 ERA. He has been named the league's top-one Major League prospect by Baseball America.

Miller had a 1.65 ERA in 2005. In 2005, Baseball America named him the College Summer Player of the Year and the top prospect in the CCBL. He earned the Robert A. McNeece Award (outstanding career goal) and was a co-winner for the B.F.C.'s Tim Norton of Falmouth and Uconn last year. The Whitehouse has been given the prestigious Pitcher Award.

Miller won eight games with no loss and took out 114 batters in 89 innings, despite being a victim. Miller was inducted into the CCBL Hall of Fame in 2012 after the mandatory five-year waiting period came to an end. Charlie Thoms, the Chatham Bars Inn's former Chatham general manager, was enshrined on November 10, 2012.

Professional career

Despite being deemed a top overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Luke Hochevar instead, and the Detroit Tigers selected Miller sixth overall, with Miller naming Miller as the sixth overall pick overall. On August 4, 2006, they decided to a deal with a guaranteed value of $5.45 million and a signing bonus of $3.55 million. He made his professional debut with the Lakeland Tigers of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League on August 20, 2006. Lakeland's career lasted less than a week, with him pitching his third and final outings just six days later. Detroit called him up to the big leagues after five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.

Miller made his MLB debut against the New York Yankees on August 30, 2006, throwing one scoreless inning and allowing one baserunner, Craig Wilson, a hit by pitch. Miller set a 0–1 record in eight games with a 6.10 ERA, walking ten batters in 9+13 innings, including seven of the 16 left-handers faced. The Tigers made it to the playoffs but didn't include him on the roster. In the 2006 World Series, they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. Miller's slider was rated as the best in the Tigers organization and the franchise's second-best prospect overall, according to Baseball America.

Although Miller did not make the Tigers' opening day roster in 2007, he made his first major league appearance against the Cardinals on May 18, 2007. He batted out six runs, three walks, and two strikeouts, starting in place of the injured Jeremy Bonderman, winning his first major league game. When Bonderman recovered from injury, Detroit reverted him to the minors four days later. Miller competed for Lakeland and the Erie SeaWolves of the Class AA Eastern League. He started three games with the SeaWolves in May and produced a 0.78 ERA in 23 IP.

On June 10, the Tigers recalled Miller, who announced Nate Robertson on the disabled list (DL) with arm pain, and Miller started the day that day. In a 15–7 victory over the New York Mets, he was the winning pitcher by decision. On June 24, he pitched his best game pitched of 2007 in Atlanta, allowing four runs and no runs, while still knocking out two batters and walking two others, resulting in a 5–0 victory for the Tigers. He had a 2–1 record, 3.71 ERA, and 28 strikeouts over five starts and 26+13 IP in July, finishing fifth in the American League with 9.45 K/9. On August 3, he returned to the DL for the first time as he set a new record of 0.01 a record and 19.80 ERA, with 11 ER in two starts before being optioned to Lakeland on August 30. Miller had a 5–5 record and 5.63 ERA in 13 starts in 2007, and he was credited with a 5.63 ERA. He limited left-handed batters (LHB) to a.175 batting average, and right-handers (RHB) batted.312 against him, the ninth-highest average in the American League.

The Tigers traded Andrew, Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo, Dallas Trahern, Eulogio de la Cruz, and Burke Badenhop to the Florida Marlins for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera on December 5, 2007. Miller debuted in the Marlins' rotation early this season. He won three games from April 23 to May 10, his highest-ever three game winning streak. He got off to a good start in May, going 3–2 with a 2.43 ERA. He started off on July 18 and landed on the wrong knee on the 15-day disabled list on July 18. In 100+2/3 innings, he had a 5–9 record and a 5.63 ERA.

Before returning from the DL on September 1, 2008, Andrew appeared in six rehab games, going 1–1 with 2.3 ERA. In nine appearances and 6+2/3 innings, the Marlins moved him to the bullpen, he went 1–1 W–L and 9.45 ERA in nine appearances and 6+2/3 innings. He lost four consecutive decisions from June 22 to September 9, tying his personal record. Miller played in 29 games, beginning with 20, and went 6–10 W–L with a 5.87 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 107+13 innings, setting new career highs for a season. He allowed a.226 average (21 hits in 93 at bats) and three home runs to LHB, as well as a.321 average (99-for-322) and four home runs to RHB.

Miller was initially assigned to the bullpen in 2009 before inserting him into the starting lineup on April 15. On April 20, he suffered an oblique muscle injury. On May 16, the club added him to the disabled list and reactivated him. On May 21, he hit a season-high seven innings and tied for his best career total appearance with nine strikeouts against the Arizona Diamondbacks. On July 20, Florida optioned him to the New Orleans Zephyrs, where he was 1–2 with a 5.79 ERA in 18.2 IP in five starts at the minor league level. During his first appearance at Nashville on July 29, he rolled his ankle. On September 6, he was recalled to the major leagues. He made 20 appearances in 2009, 14 of whom started with 14 of them, going 3–5 with a 4.84 ERA.

Miller was called by the Marlins to start the season with a Triple-A minor league team in New Orleans during spring training in 2010. He also pitched for the Double-A Jacksonville Suns, where he made 18 starts and finished 85+13 innings. With a 61-run outs and 61 walks, he set a new record and ERA 6.01 as he allowed 57 earned runs and 61 walks with 66 strikeouts. On August 18, the club recalled him to the major leagues. Miller finished the 2010 season 1-5 with an 8.54 ERA in nine games and seven starts.

The Marlins traded Miller to the Boston Red Sox for relief pitcher Dustin Richardson on November 12, 2010. He was born in Boston less than a month after being arrested. After his club non-tendered him because of the pitching mechanics' deficiencies, manager Terry Francona said he "must have made 15 calls this winter trying to get him to the Red Sox" and that the club's non-tendered him. On December 16, 2010, Miller rejoined Boston. During 2011 spring training, Boston optioned Miller to minor league camp and announced that he would start the year as a starting pitcher with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.

Boston purchased Miller's deal on June 19, 2011. In four games that he started, the Red Sox won, three of them, though he was credited as the winning pitcher in three of them. The Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Red Sox at Tropicana Field on July 15, his first loss of the 2011 season. Miller was forced to leave five runs on five wickets, including a grand slam to Ben Zobrist, after 2+2/3 innings. He made it to a 6.54 ERA in 17 games and 12 starts in 2011 and ended with a 6.54 ERA.

Miller debuted in the minors in 2012 after recovering from an injury. The Red Sox called him to the majors, and he was moved to the bullpen, which became permanent after posting a 5.70 ERA in 66 starts. Miller limited left-handed batters (LHB) to a.149 average (13-for-87), the second lowest AL for all pitchers with a minimum of 100 batters faced, and the lowest average for a Red Sox left-handed pitcher since at least 1974. On May 23, he gave LHB one extra base hit over the season, and afterward, he gave LHB 10 more hits. He left 39 (84.8 percent), the fifth best in the AL, and the eighth-highest ratio of Red Sox relievers since at least 1974, when inheritance exceeded 30 or more runners. He made a team-high 31 hitsless appearances and had 22 flawless outings.

In 53 appearances, Miller had a 3–2 record and a 3.35 ERA. He had his best games, ERA, and wins (13), WHIP (1.194), and K/9 (11.38), all career-bests. In his first full season of relief pitching, the Boston BBBWA named Miller Red Sox Fireman of the Year.

Miller tripped and sustained a foot injury while covering home plate after J.. B. Shuck had hit a single. Dr. George Theodore, a Podiatrist, discovered torn ligaments in his foot's Lisfranc zone. Miller also missed the remainder of the 2013 season as a result. He had a 1–2 W–L with a 2.64 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 37 games. He had a career-best 2.82 strike out-to-walk ratio (K/BB) and a career-high 14.1 K/9, the second-highest ratio for all MLB relievers with at least 30 IP. Despite Miller's year-long absence, the Red Sox gave him a championship ring after winning the World Series.

With Boston, Miller achieved new heights of success in 2014. He was especially effective at home at Fenway Park, stranding 24 of 26 runners (92.3%) and encouraging one to run in 26 games for a.39 ERA in 23 IP, while restricting opponents to a.105 batting average and career-low.229 on-base percentages. In 42+3 innings, the Red Sox's season totals include 50 appearances, a 3–5 W–L, 2.34 ERA, 13 walks, and 69 strikeouts.

On July 31, 2014, Boston traded Miller to the Baltimore Orioles for minor-league pitcher Eduardo Rodroz. Miller won 75 over Tampa Bay for his first career save on September 7, 2014, after a scoreless 11th. In an 8-2 victory over Toronto on September 16, the Orioles clinched their first American League East title in 17 years in 17 years. In that game, he faced two batters and struck both out.

According to Brooks Baseball, opponents batted.071 against Miller's slider in 2014 and.153 against him overall. Miller went 2–0 with a 1.35 ERA in 23 appearances with Baltimore. Miller made 73 appearances in 2014, with a 2.02 ERA and 103 strikeouts, with both Boston and Baltimore. Miller earned a hold in two of the Oriole victories during the Orioles' American League Division Series (ALDS) sweep sweep of the Detroit Tigers. In the 2014 playoffs, he batted out three batters and no-run baseball, while retiring 22 of 24 batters and retiring 22 of 24 batters faced in six scoreless innings overall.

Miller and the New York Yankees signed an agreement on a four-year contract worth $36 million on December 5, 2014. Joe Girardi, the Yankees' manager, revealed that Miller and Dellin Betances would split the closing position before the season began. Both men had just one career save before the season. Miller earned his first save in a Yankee uniform on April 8, 2015, and started the season with 17+239 scoreless innings. He made history by becoming the first Yankee player to record eight saves in a 20-game span on April 27.

Opponents batted.092 against Miller's slider in 2015. In 61+220 innings pitched, Miller had a 2.04 ERA, 36 saves, and 100 strikeouts. He held right-handed batters to the lowest batting average,.130, for 30 or more innings). As selected by the Internet Baseball Writers' Association of America, he received the 2015 American League Relief Pitcher of the Year Award, the Rollie Fingers American League Relief Pitcher of the Year, and was named as the Yankees' "premier closer" for 2015. Miller ranked tenth in the AL Cy Young Award nominations.

The Yankees notified Miller that he would be the eighth-inning setup man in the 2015 series, with the trade of Aroldis Chapman, one of baseball's best closers. However, the Yankees temporarily recalled Miller as closer as early as spring training. A line drive fractured the pisiform bone in his right hand at the end of spring training. He elected to pitch with the fracture, saying that "according to Wikipedia, it is not really a significant bone." It doesn't really do anything."

Miller saved nine games before Chapman's return to action. The triumvirate of Betances, Chapman, and Miller, according to the relievers' dominance of opposing hitters, was known by fans as "No Runs—D.M.C.." Miller was selected to his first All-Star Game at Petco Park in San Diego. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and was dismissed after loading the bases, but no runs were charged to him. Miller had 77 strikeouts in 45+13 innings before being traded into the Yankees for a season of 1.39 in 44 games.

Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller, and J. P. Feyereisen were traded by the Yankees to the Cleveland Indians on July 31, 2016. Cleveland defeated New York 52 at Yankee Stadium on August 6, 2016, Miller's first save for the Browns. He was the first pitcher to earn a save for and against the Yankees in the same season since 1988.

Francona, who has rejoined Miller as the Indians' manager, said he noticed "any inning" will be pitched. Miller was used in every inning from the fifth to extra innings, "in the most difficult situations" -- appearing in nine of 26 games before the eighth inning. Miller, a Cleveland native, completed 29 innings, allowed two walks, and struck out 46 runs for a 1.55 ERA. His overall record in 2016 included 12 saves, a 10-1 record, 1.68 walks per inning pitched, and nine walks, with 123 strikeouts and nine walks. He was the first major leaguer to reach 120 or more strikeouts in a season while allowing fewer than ten walks. In 2016, Brooks Baseball, opponents batted.159 against Miller's slider. He came in ninth in the AL Cy Young Award balloting, receiving one third place vote.

The Indians swept Boston in the ALDS, and Miller lasted four innings in two appearances, allowing two hits, walking two, and striking out seven. He was in two innings each of Games 1 and 2 in the American League Championship Series (ALCS), defeating ten of 12 batters faced. In Game 2's seventh inning, Kevin Pillar met Phil Coke as the only pitchers to strike out at least five consecutive batters in the 2012 World Series. Miller was also the first pitcher in major league history to throw out at least five batters each on a day. He was on his first four appearances in the 2016 postseason, striking out 17 out 727-2/3 innings.

Miller won by four points out of Game 3, knocking out three in a 4-2 victory for his first postseason victory. In Game 5, he took 2+2/3 innings as the Indians captured the ALCS for the second time. He was named ALCS Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his 7+223 runs, no walks, and striking out 14 runs out of 14. His strikeout total set a new ALCS record for relievers. He has also been charged with three arrests and one save. At that time, he had played 20 scoreless innings to begin his playoff career.

Miller was credited with his first World Series victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 3 of the World Series. He went for 15 straight scoreless innings in the 2016 playoffs, defeating Mariano Rivera and Goose Gossage to set the record for relief pitchers in a single postseason after striking out three batters out in 1+1.3 innings. He knocked out two Cubs hitters in Game 4, raising his overall playoff total to 29, beating Francisco Rodro's total of 28 in the 2002 playoffs. Miller set a new strikeout record in seven appearances, all in the 2016 postseason, and more than any other MLB reliever. In Game 5, Dexter Fowler homered off Miller, snapping his scoreless streak in the 2016 playoffs and 2413 to begin his postseason career. Miller allowed five batters to reach base and two runs to score in 2+13 innings as the Indians lost the game and series in Game 7. Miller's single-season record for relievers in a single season surpassed 30, while other single-postseason records he set for relievers in 2016 were innings (19+13) and multi-inning appearances (10). Miller was named the 2016 Esurance MLB/This Year in Baseball Award winner for Best Postseason Major Leaguer despite finally succumbing to the Cubs' offense in Game 7.

Miller's second pick in his career, in 2017, was chosen to play in the All-Star Game. Cody Bellinger was able to save the game and earn his first All-Star save. Due to patellar tendinitis in the right knee, the Indians put Miller on the 10-day disabled list on August 2. On August 21, he returned to action, but he had to leave the game after throwing seven pitches. He aggravated the same knee right away, and the next day, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list. On September 14, the Indians reactivated Miller, the day they tied for the longest winning streak at 21 games in the American League. Miller's career included a 43 WIL, 621-48, 1.44 ERA, 95 strikeouts, 31 hits allowed, 21 walks, and two saves in 57 appearances. The Indians won an AL-best 102 games.

In Game 3 of the ALDS, Miller suffered his first loss of his playoff career against the Yankees on October 8, 2017. Greg Bird received his first run of the game in a 10 score, despite him having a solo home run. Bellinger, a left-handed batter who had previously homered off Miller in 2017. In the ALDS, the Yankees defeated the Indians in five games. Miller's only run in the series was in the home run to Bird. He made four appearances, completed five innings, and struck out eight out eight out of eight.

Miller decided to a two-year, $25 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, with a vesting option for 2021. Miller finished the 2019 regular season with a 5-6 record and a 4.45 ERA, defeating 70 batters out of 54+2/3 relief innings. For the 2021 season, his vesting option was enabled. With 16 strikeouts in 13.0 innings of work, he finished the 2020 season with a 2.77 ERA.

Miller resigned on March 24, 2022, 2022.

International career

In Team USA's first loss of the tournament, Miller gave up home runs to Nelson Cruz and Starling Marte of the Dominican Republic. When Team USA defeated Puerto Rico 8-0 in the final on March 22, 2017, Miller earned his first major International Championship of his baseball career.

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